The Rise of Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss’s work has left an enduring impact on children’s literature. His real name was Theodor Geisel, and he was born in Massachusetts. Geisel originally aspired to become an English professor and even studied at Oxford in the UK. It was there that he met Helen Palmer, who would become his first wife and play a crucial role in encouraging him to pursue a career in illustration and writing instead of academia. This pivot led to the creation of over 60 books that have sold more than 600 million copies worldwide and been translated into 45 languages.
Helen and Geisel married in 1927, and despite the hardships of the Great Depression, they remained a strong team. Geisel’s career as a children’s author began to take off, and his books became synonymous with clever rhymes and inventive illustrations. However, Helen could not have children due to medical reasons, leading Geisel to often quip, “You have ’em, and I’ll entertain ’em.”
