The Tough Coughs As He Ploughs the Dough: Early Writings and Cartoons by Dr. Seuss [Hardcover]

Dr. Seuss (Author), Richard Marschall (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Here's a real treat for those who spent their formative years reading about the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch. Marschall has compiled 60 cartoon essays, 20 articles, and 30 cartoon fantasies of early Seuss. Included are the solutions to such earthshaking problems as "How To Eject a Cow from Your Apartment," and notes on how to "Punish Your Offspring Scientifically." Then there's the cartoon series of advertisements for Flit insecticide ("Quick Henry! The Flit!"). Here's college humor at its bestsheer silliness, outrageous characters, and fine writing. Marschall's introduction offers a background on Seuss's development as a writer, as well as a glimpse at college humor of the 1920s and 30s. Recommended. Carol Spielman Lezak, General Learning Corp., Highland Park, Ill.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; First Edition edition (May 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688065481
• ISBN-13: 978-0688065485
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspired absurdity- early nonsense for a good laugh., January 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tough Coughs As He Ploughs the Dough: Early Writings and Cartoons by Dr. Seuss (Hardcover)

for anyone seeking the inane and absurd this book is a must. featuring essays, cartoons and captions, and illustrations all done in the purely irrational Seuss style, it none the less has a raw and unpolished feel; early work with excellent quality and different to the more known Seuss children's books. the content ranges from essays as "sex and the sea god- a frothy novelette" to educational charts on "making our daughters less irritating" and an extremely funny cartoon collection. if -and possibly only if- you are a fan of the nonsensical, Seuss' genius, as in this book, will have you chuckling for a long time yet.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A unique collection of Theodore Geisel's early works. Great!, February 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tough Coughs As He Ploughs the Dough: Early Writings and Cartoons by Dr. Seuss (Hardcover)

We think of Dr. Suess as only a children's author but his early works, as seen in this collection, show his brilliance in the socio-political arena as well. I especially like his story, "The Waiting Room at Dang-Dang:Or Where the D.T.'s Go While Waiting for Assignment" and the story from which the book takes its title. If you are a Dr. Suess fan, and you can find this book available, it is a must for your collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the Cat in the Hat, April 23, 2003

By 

David Hardison "rackitycoon" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tough Coughs As He Ploughs the Dough: Early Writings and Cartoons by Dr. Seuss (Hardcover)

Long before he envisioned the Cat that would forever change children's literature, Theodore Geisel was penning essays and cartoons for the humor magazines of the roaring 20's. But even then, he was best known as Dr. Seuss.

Though these essays and articles aren't in his characteristic rhymes, they are still full of the wildly outrageous shenanigans we remember from his later works. Herein we learn "The Origin of Contract Bridge" (a game played by ancient Druids using croquet mallets), how to pull the old "Cow-out of Pocket" trick, as well as "Some New and Better Superstitions". Like most absurdist writings, it's hard to hit the mark every time and some of the good doctor's writings fall flat, but most are sure to induce giggles.

Writing is only half of Seuss' talents however. All of the prose is illustrated, and the book also includes a nice collection of his cartoons. Most are one panel affairs reminiscent of Gary Larson's "Far Side" cartoons, but where Larson reveled in simplicity, Seuss fills his visions with detailed (if googly-eyed) beasts and fancifully intricate architecture.

This is one of those "rainy day books". The kind you can pick up and thumb through when you need a quick case of the grins.