Mostly Books have announced the winner of their Dr Seuss bingo competition. The display featuring Dr Seuss was put there to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Cat in the Hat – published on 12th March 1957.
The first ever book by Dr Seuss was published in 1931, and contained schoolboy bloopers, jokes, and humour. It was illustrated by Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and written under the pseudonym Alexander Abingdon. It can still be found compiled in the Pocket Book of Boners. The updated word for ‘boner’ is ‘blooper’.
Strange that he should choose the pseudonym Alexander Abingdon, because there was a real Alexander of Abingdon. He was a court sculptor who worked around 1300. Four of his sculptures survive, three in the V&A and one in the Met.
Now that is informative! Thanks, Peter.
If ever proof were needed that language evolves and words change meaning over time, this is it…..