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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 9 January 2019

Audrey Geisel, widow and promoter of Dr. Seuss, dies at 97

By BRIAN MELLEY A group of books, for ex-
Associated Press ample, that use the Cat in
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As Dr. the Hat as a conventional
Seuss neared the end of his educator stray from the
life, the children’s author character’s rebellious roots,
told his wife that she would Nel said. Another book
have to look after the Cat titled “Seuss-isms for Suc-
in the Hat, the Lorax, the cess” takes Seuss quotes
Grinch and all the beloved out of context to apply to
characters he created. business situations.
It was a mission Audrey “There’s been some pretty
Geisel embraced for more great stuff, too,” Nel said.
than a quarter-century. As “The animated Horton
overseer of Dr. Seuss’ pro- film was really thoughtfully
lific and lucrative literary done and understood the
estate, she carefully guard- Seuss universe really well.”
ed the whimsical works of Geisel was a Chicago na-
the writer and illustrator less tive and former nursing stu-
known as Theodor Geisel dent at Indiana University.
and expanded the Seuss She and Theodor Geisel,
legacy. She promoted a In this March 11, 2004 file photo, Audrey Geisel, widow of famed children’s book author Theodor who was 17 years older,
highly profitable multime- Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, poses with The Cat in the Hat. were both married to other
dia brand, from books and Associated Press people when they began
films to theme park rides empire. She broadly ex- Myers of “Austin Powers” the animated 1966 classic an affair in the 1960s. His first
and the Broadway show panded it beyond what fame. produced by Chuck Jones wife, Helen, killed herself.
“Seussical.” her husband cared to do “I never saw ‘Austin Pow- and narrated by Boris Karl- Audrey Geisel sent the two
Audrey Geisel, 97, died while creating his 47 chil- ers,’ but I knew ‘Yeah, off. The movies have been daughters she had with
Wednesday at her home in dren’s stories. And, oh, the baby!’ and I didn’t want lucrative with the recent her first husband to board-
the La Jolla section of San places she went with it. ‘Yeah, baby!’ at all,” she “Grinch” production earn- ing school after the Geisels
Diego, Random House Chil- More than 10 million Dr. told the AP in 2004. ing $245 million at the box married in 1968. The couple
dren’s Books announced. Seuss books sell each year Geisel is credited as execu- office, according to Com- had no children together
Geisel, who founded Dr. and new works are coming tive producer of the ani- score. Animated film ver- — Seuss was not particu-
Seuss Enterprises, said she out, such as last spring’s “Dr. mated film “The Grinch,” sions of “The Lorax” raked larly fond of kids, she said.
took to heart the responsi- Seuss’s First 100 words,” ac- which was released last in $214 million and “Horton “He was afraid of chil-
bility her husband left her cording to Random House. month and tapped Bene- Hears a Who” made $154 dren to a degree,” Audrey
when he died in 1991. The 2000 live-action film dict Cumberbatch to voice million. While Geisel has Geisel told AP.
“You keep a firm control as version of “How the Grinch the title character. kept a tight rein on produc- Geisel said she understood
if they really were your chil- Stole Christmas,” starring A poll conducted by AP- tions and merchandising, the gravity of what she was
dren,” Geisel told The Asso- Jim Carrey, was a box- NORC earlier this month some of those efforts may undertaking when her hus-
ciated Press in 1998. “I don’t office smash. But Audrey put “The Grinch” just be- have departed from Se- band died, but said she was
want the Cat in a bad part Geisel and critics despised hind “It’s a Wonderful Life” uss’ spirit, said Philip Nel, an surprised how much work it
of town, so to speak.” the 2003 live-action ad- of favorite holiday films or English professor at Kansas was to oversee the business
But she went far beyond aptation of “The Cat in television. It didn’t specify if State University, who wrote and philanthropy of the Dr.
keeping a tight grip on the the Hat” that starred Mike it was the Carrey version or “Dr. Seuss: American Icon.” Seuss Foundation.q

Mesha Maren’s debut novel, ‘Sugar Run,’ is heartfelt

By OLINE H. COGDILL had known, savoring the owned by her grandmoth- mother’s land “ripe with
Associated Press “delicious, unfamiliar risk” er. Then Jodi meets and disuse.” Maren seamlessly
“Sugar Run: A Novel” (Al- of each day. The couple falls for Miranda Matheson moves “Sugar Run” from
gonquin), by Mesha Maren supported themselves with Golden, who is separated 1988 as she describes the
Flawed people and a force- petty crimes and Paula’s from her husband, a coun- deteriorating romance be-
ful look at an area ravaged skills as a poker player. try music star “of receding tween Jodi and Paula and
by an economic downturn Paula’s intoxicating talks fame.” Along with Miran- the present as the newly
and a rising opioid epidem- about how a good poker da’s three sons, the new released Jodi, who always
ic meld in the character- hand is a “sweet sugar run” couple heads for West Vir- considered herself a victim
driven “Sugar Run,” Mesha has Jodi remembering her ginia where Jodi remem- and is now desperately try-
Maren’s novel debut. At West Virginia home, and bers “even the air around ing to make better choices
35, Jodi McCarty is getting how she wants to return to her had felt right.” Along with her life and her heart.
her first taste of freedom the landscape of “flashing the way, Jodi hopes to find Jodi is constantly weighed
when she’s released from mountain creeks that ap- Paula’s younger brother, down by her past, and her
prison after being convict- pear out of nowhere after Ricky, who was abused as future with the complicat-
ed at 17 for shooting her a good rain.” a child. “Sugar Run” gains ed and unstable Miranda.
girlfriend, Paula Dulett. Be- This cover image released by The relationship with Paula its strength from Maren’s Jodi fears her grandmother
fore Paula, the only person Algonquin shows “Sugar Run,” — and its violent end — uncompromising storytell- was correct —”the future
who had been kind to Jodi a novel by Mesha Maren. preys on Jodi’s mind as she ing and her insistence on was only a parallel of the
was her grandmother, Effie. Associated Press begins her new life, hoping showing even the most past.” Jodi’s salvation will
The aimless cross-country Mexico with Paula, was the she can fulfill her dream of painful realities, especially be if she can rise against
trek, including a dip into closest to happiness Jodi settling on the land once when Jodi finds her grand- her past.q