I grew up reading Dr. Seuss books and so did my kids.

The whimsical genius behind beloved classics like The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham enchanted generations with his imaginative illustrations and rhythmic tales.

But I had no idea that there was a very dark chapter in his life — a chapter that involves words like ”infidelity” and ”suicide.”

 

 

Whether you know who Dr. Seuss is or not, chances are you’ve encountered his books or illustrations. For older generations, he’s a beloved icon, while younger readers might recognize him primarily as the creator of the mischievous Grinch.

When we look at the actual numbers, there’s no doubt: Dr. Seuss stands as one of the most significant children’s authors in the English-speaking world. He wrote and illustrated over 60 books during his lifetime, which sold a staggering 600 million copies and were translated into 45 languages.

Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Geisel, penned classics that continue to influence popular culture today. However, in recent years, some of his books have been withdrawn from publication. In 2021, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced that six of his books would no longer be published due to their racist content. The titles contained caricatures of Asians and people of color, along with stereotypical depictions that have been criticized for their racism.

 

 

 

This decision sparked intense debate and controversy, marking yet another instance where Dr. Seuss found himself in the spotlight for less-than-desirable reasons. If we delve into the legendary author’s private life, there’s a dark chapter that many are unaware of.

Dr. Seuss first wife

The story began when Ted Geisel, born in Massachusetts, started studying at Oxford in the UK. At that time, Geisel aspired to become an English professor, despite already showing remarkable talent as a illustrator and writer.

In England, Geisel met his future wife, Helen Palmer, who would have a significant impact on him. She was six years older than him.

Helen, raised in the affluent Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, was diligent in her studies and had ambitious goals. When she met Geisel, she encouraged him to abandon his plans of becoming an English professor and instead pursue a career as an illustrator.

”Ted’s notebooks were always filled with these fabulous animals. So I set to work diverting him; here was a man who could draw such pictures; he should be earning a living doing that,” Helen later recalled.

Geisel returned to the USA in 1927 and married Helen in New York. Life seemed promising, but soon dark clouds gathered. The Great Depression hit with full force, and making a living as an illustrator and writer became exceedingly difficult. Geisel wrote two-line gags for Judge and Life, and he was paid in due bills, not dollars.

Helen couldn’t have children due to medical issues, but she and Geisel remained a strong team. When Dr. Seuss was asked how he managed to connect with children despite not having any of his own, he would respond with his signature line:

“You have ‘em, and I’ll entertain ‘em.”

Helen and Geisel worked together closely, and she followed her husband when he got a job in Hollywood. When the documentary Design for Death won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Helen was credited as a co-writer alongside Geisel.

Years of pain

During the 1950s, Helen continued to work closely with her husband. She did everything for Geisel, who could be difficult to live with at times. Despite the wealth his children’s books had brought him, he refused to switch to an electric typewriter, deeming it “too sophisticated.” Helen joked that when her husband wasn’t working, he indulged in his “only two extravagances”: chain-smoking cigarettes and arranging rocks in his desert garden.

Helen managed the financial matters, which bored him, and organized dinner parties, which exhausted him. According to the biography Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel, she handled all the shopping, and when publishers suggested book tours or interviews, only Helen could persuade the reluctant author to leave his tower.

At the same time, she also worked on several of her own books.

Helen also co-founded the “Beginner Books” imprint — you might recognize the Cat in the Hat logo — in 1957. She is said to have been the driving force behind many of Geisel’s works, though she never received full credit for it.