Morgan, Judith and Neil - Dr Seuss and Mr Geisel (From Crewe Guardian)

Morgan, Judith and Neil - Dr Seuss and Mr Geisel

3:53pm Thursday 22nd May 2008 in

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A NEW generation of children is being seduced by the eccentric Dr Seuss with the new film, Horton Hears A Who!

This book was originally published in 1994 but is worth revisiting to discover the story of the man behind the legend.

Judith and Neil Morgan, the authors of this excellent biography, were neighbours of Dr Seuss and paint a vivid picture of the man and his life, revealing many fascinating details.

First of all, he wasn't a real doctor - that was just a pen-name behind which the brilliant comic artist and versifier hid for most of his professional life.

In reality, he was Theodor Seuss Geisel, born to second generation German immigrants in 1904 in the New England town of Springfield, Massachusetts. He first adopted the pseudonym 'Seuss' (his mother's maiden name and correctly pronounced Soice to rhyme with voice') at university to shield his identity after he was banned from working for the college magazine for holding a boozy party.

He later added the 'Dr' when he became a political cartoonist on New York magazines. During the Second World War he made propaganda army films with director Frank Capra.

Later, he moved west to the Californian coastal town of La Jolla, near San Diego, and it was here that his career as one of the greatest ever children's authors flourished.

He revolutionised reading books for young children when he conjured up The Cat In The Hat. Thereafter, a string of brilliant, unpredictable masterpieces flowed from his pen and paint-brush, including How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Lorax and Green Eggs And Ham.

His valedictory Oh! The Places You'll Go was published in 1990 and is now often given to graduating students in America. The good Dr Seuss died, aged 87, in 1991.

We have much to thank him for.