A Dr. Seuss You Might Not Know

2016-04-10 14.29.27Did you know that before Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote children’s books and played with language he was a political cartoonist for PM, a favorite read for New Deal liberals?   His cartoons are fiercely anti-fascist, pro-intervention and critical of anti-semitism and anti-black racism. They share the zeitgeist of the times undeniably racist in their portrayal of Japanese Americans, urging support for the war effort and caricaturing Nazi leaders.  A book of these cartoons from 1941-42 with an introduction by Art Spiegelman is revealing of both contemporary attitudes about the war and Geisel’s illustration work before he became a renowned children’s author. Perhaps most startling some of his mythical beasts make an early appearance in these cartoons.  Page through Dr. Seuss Goes to War for some surprises.


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