{"id":9196,"date":"2025-03-22T20:17:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T20:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=9196"},"modified":"2025-03-22T20:17:54","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T20:17:54","slug":"the-dark-truth-about-dr-seuss-and-his-two-wives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=9196","title":{"rendered":"The dark truth about Dr. Seuss and his two wives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>I grew up reading Dr. Seuss books and so did my kids.<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"mubyu69f5ca6f7841d\" ><div style=\"width:100%; max-width:1200px; margin:0 auto;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/bolt-casino.com?r=0BFDBF1283\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    <img \n      src=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f8693ebb-2018-480f-a2f7-0096810c07f0.jpg\" \n      alt=\"200% Deposit Bonus + 10% Cashback\" \n      style=\"width:100%; height:auto; display:block; border-radius:8px; cursor:pointer;\"\n    \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 1201px) {\r\n.mubyu69f5ca6f7841d {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) {\r\n.mubyu69f5ca6f7841d {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) {\r\n.mubyu69f5ca6f7841d {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) {\r\n.mubyu69f5ca6f7841d {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {\r\n.mubyu69f5ca6f7841d {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\n<p><strong>The whimsical genius behind beloved classics like\u00a0<em>The Cat in the Hat<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>Green Eggs and Ham<\/em>\u00a0enchanted generations with his imaginative illustrations and rhythmic tales.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-4c7ee5d5cc043c3bd1f734842454fe1b\" class=\"newsner-4c7ee5d5cc043c3bd1f734842454fe1b newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"newsner-520082009\" class=\"newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"bb-iawr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb_iawr\">\n<div id=\"bb-wr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb-media bb_wrapper bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\" data-flags=\"{}\" data-softembargoremainingtime=\"0\" data-sid=\"l1DvwlLTs89r\" data-isready=\"true\" data-autoplaynextremainingtime=\"0\">\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-content-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-poster-layer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img alt=\"\" \/><img alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-timeline-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-subtitle-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-subtitledisplay\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-commercial-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-skin-layer bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\">\n<div class=\"bb-skin-container phase-init svelte-ft9qq1 playing\" lang=\"en\" tabindex=\"0\" data-cy=\"skin-mode-main\" aria-label=\"Blue Billywig Video Player\">\n<div class=\"cols-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"main-col svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"loading-overlay no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"keyboard-feedback no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-gpabtz\">\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container left svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-spacer-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"center-button-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-spacer-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container right svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"logo-overlay svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chrome svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"header-area svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-bar svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata-wrapper svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata svelte-ft9qq1\" role=\"contentinfo\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"share-button bar-button svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-tooltip-bridge svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"button-tooltip svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"tooltip svelte-cqgi39\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-content left svelte-cqgi39\">\n<div class=\"text svelte-cqgi39\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"center-controls-layer svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"big-button big-play-pause-button svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"center-area svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"chrome-bottom-shadow svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-context-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>But I had no idea that there was a very dark chapter in his life \u2014 a chapter that involves words like \u201dinfidelity\u201d and \u201dsuicide.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-inline-featured-image wp-caption alignnone\">\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-main-thumbnail size-main-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12-664x350.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12-664x350.jpg 664w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12-400x210.jpg 400w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12-412x216.jpg 412w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12.jpg 1200w\" alt=\"\" width=\"664\" height=\"350\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>I grew up reading Dr. Seuss books and so did my kids.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The whimsical genius behind beloved classics like\u00a0<em>The Cat in the Hat<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>Green Eggs and Ham<\/em>\u00a0enchanted generations with his imaginative illustrations and rhythmic tales.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-4c7ee5d5cc043c3bd1f734842454fe1b\" class=\"newsner-4c7ee5d5cc043c3bd1f734842454fe1b newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"newsner-520082009\" class=\"newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"bb-iawr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb_iawr\">\n<div id=\"bb-wr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb-media bb_wrapper bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\" data-flags=\"{}\" data-softembargoremainingtime=\"0\" data-sid=\"l1DvwlLTs89r\" data-isready=\"true\" data-autoplaynextremainingtime=\"0\">\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-content-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-poster-layer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img alt=\"\" \/><img alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-timeline-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-subtitle-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-subtitledisplay\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-commercial-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-skin-layer bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\">\n<div class=\"bb-skin-container phase-init svelte-ft9qq1 playing\" lang=\"en\" tabindex=\"0\" data-cy=\"skin-mode-main\" aria-label=\"Blue Billywig Video Player\">\n<div class=\"cols-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"main-col svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"loading-overlay no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"keyboard-feedback no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-gpabtz\">\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container left svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-spacer-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"center-button-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-spacer-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container right svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"logo-overlay svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chrome svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"header-area svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-bar svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata-wrapper svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata svelte-ft9qq1\" role=\"contentinfo\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"share-button bar-button svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-tooltip-bridge svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"button-tooltip svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"tooltip svelte-cqgi39\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-content left svelte-cqgi39\">\n<div class=\"text svelte-cqgi39\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"center-controls-layer svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"big-button big-play-pause-button svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"center-area svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"chrome-bottom-shadow svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-context-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>But I had no idea that there was a very dark chapter in his life \u2014 a chapter that involves words like \u201dinfidelity\u201d and \u201dsuicide.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154843\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-scaled.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1968px) 100vw, 1968px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-scaled.jpg 1968w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-768x999.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-1181x1536.jpg 1181w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-1574x2048.jpg 1574w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1968\" height=\"2560\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Library of Congress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Whether you know who Dr. Seuss is or not, chances are you\u2019ve encountered his books or illustrations. For older generations, he\u2019s a beloved icon, while younger readers might recognize him primarily as the creator of the mischievous\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.newsner.com\/tag\/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas\/\">Grinch<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When we look at the actual numbers, there\u2019s no doubt: Dr. Seuss stands as one of the most significant children\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154842\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074634\/geisel1.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074634\/geisel1.jpg 864w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074634\/geisel1-768x613.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"864\" height=\"690\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Library of Congress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>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\u2019s private life, there\u2019s a dark chapter that many are unaware of.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-dr-seuss-first-wife\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dr. Seuss first wife<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>In England, Geisel met his future wife, Helen Palmer, who would have a significant impact on him. She was six years older than him.<\/p>\n<p>Helen, raised in the affluent Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.newsner.com\/tag\/brooklyn\/\">Brooklyn<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154844\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074818\/helen23.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"390\" height=\"577\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Helen_Palmer_(writer)#\/media\/File:Helen_Palmer_1924_Passport_Photo.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wikipedia Commons \/ Familysearch<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201dTed\u2019s 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,\u201d Helen later recalled.<\/p>\n<p>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\u00a0<em>Judge<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>Life<\/em>, and he was paid in due bills, not dollars.<\/p>\n<p>Helen couldn\u2019t 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:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have \u2018em, and I\u2019ll entertain \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Helen and Geisel worked together closely, and she followed her husband when he got a job in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.newsner.com\/tag\/hollywood\/\">Hollywood<\/a>. When the documentary\u00a0<em>Design for Death<\/em>\u00a0won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Helen was credited as a co-writer alongside Geisel.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-years-of-pain\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Years of pain<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2019s books had brought him, he refused to switch to an electric typewriter, deeming it \u201ctoo sophisticated.\u201d Helen joked that when her husband wasn\u2019t working, he indulged in his \u201conly two extravagances\u201d: chain-smoking cigarettes and arranging rocks in his desert garden.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-706368753\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_154814_2\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CPaT3tfAnowDFaxCpAQdA1Mj0Q\">\n<p>Helen managed the financial matters, which bored him, and organized dinner parties, which exhausted him. According to the biography\u00a0<em>Dr. Seuss &amp; Mr. Geisel<\/em>, she\u00a0handled all the shopping, and when publishers suggested book tours or interviews, only Helen could persuade the reluctant author to leave his tower.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, she also worked on several of her own books.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154845\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074928\/GettyImages-1558738313.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074928\/GettyImages-1558738313.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074928\/GettyImages-1558738313-768x576.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Helen also co-founded the \u201cBeginner Books\u201d imprint \u2014 you might recognize\u00a0<em>the Cat in the Hat logo<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 in 1957. She is said to have been the driving force behind many of Geisel\u2019s works, though she never received full credit for it.<\/p>\n<p>The close collaboration persisted until Helen began to experience significant health issues. While Geisel was at the height of his professional career, his marriage was facing turmoil. Helen had developed\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/guillain-barre-syndrome\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20362793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Guillain-Barr\u00e9 Syndrome<\/a>, a rare autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the nerves, leading to numbness and muscle weakness.<\/p>\n<p>The last dozen years of Helen Geisel\u2019s life were marked by pain, with her symptoms also including partial paralysis.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-helen-s-last-words\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Helen\u2019s last words<\/h2>\n<p>After suffering through her pain for more than a decade, Helen reached a breaking point. The burden became too much, and she began to consider ending her life.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Geisel had grown distant from his wife and allegedly began an affair with a family friend, Audrey Stone Dimond, who was also married with two daughters<\/p>\n<p>Depressed and likely\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20100307033137\/https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2000\/11\/29\/nyregion\/public-lives-mrs-seuss-hears-a-who-and-tells-about-it.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">troubled by the suspicions of her husband\u2019s affair<\/a>, Helen made the heartbreaking decision to end her life. She died by\u00a0suicide\u00a0with an\u00a0overdose\u00a0of\u00a0barbiturates\u00a0on October 23, 1967.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-510480324\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_154814_3\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CO7k8t7AnowDFbRwpAQdg1cIjw\">\n<p>A letter addressed to her husband was found near her lifeless body:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Dear Ted, What has happened to us? I don\u2019t know. I feel myself in a spiral, going down down down, into a black hole from which there is no escape, no brightness. And loud in my ears from every side I hear, \u201cfailure, failure, failure\u2026\u201d I love you so much \u2026 I am too old and enmeshed in everything you do and are, that I cannot conceive of life without you \u2026 My going will leave quite a rumor but you can say I was overworked and overwrought. Your reputation with your friends and fans will not be harmed \u2026 Sometimes think of the fun we had all thru the years ..<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154846\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075141\/GettyImages-3204971.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075141\/GettyImages-3204971.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075141\/GettyImages-3204971-768x518.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"691\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">American writer and illustrator Dr Seuss points towards something in the distance while his wife Helen prepares to take a picture outside their home in La Jolla, California, April 25, 1957. (Photo by Gene Lester\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Seuss later described his despair after Helen\u2019s death:<\/p>\n<p>\u201dI didn\u2019t know whether to kill myself, burn the house down, or just disappear and get lost,\u201d he said, according to the book\u00a0<em>Dr. Seuss &amp; Mr. Geisel<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Geisel\u2019s niece, Peggy, remarked, \u201dWhatever Helen did, she did it out of absolute love for Ted.\u201d Meanwhile, secretary Julie Olfe described Palmer\u2019s death as \u201dher last and greatest gift to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-inside-the-affair\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inside the affair<\/h2>\n<p>Eight months after Helen\u2019s death, in August 1968, Geisel married Audrey Dimond, who was 18 years his junior. The couple exchanged vows at the Washoe County Courthouse in Reno, Nevada, with no friends in attendance. Instead of a traditional celebration, Dr. Seuss broke the news by sending a letter to his friends.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dAudrey and I are going to be married [\u2026] I am acquiring two daughters, aged nine and fourteen. I am rebuilding the house to take care of the influx. I am 64 years old. I am marrying a woman eighteen years younger\u2026 I have not flipped my lid. This is not a sudden nutty decision\u2026 This is an inevitable, inescapable conclusion [\u2026] All I can ask you is to try to believe in me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Audrey first met Geisel and his wife, Helen Palmer, at a party in La Jolla, the scenic seaside neighborhood of San Diego. Even then, there was an undeniable spark between them, a connection that would later grow into a full-blown love affair.<\/p>\n<p>While Helen was gravely ill, Geisel found solace in Audrey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dThe feeling was that at his age you grab for the gusto. You don\u2019t wait. You don\u2019t think you have that much time,\u201d Audrey later reflected.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154847\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075207\/GettyImages-106743647.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075207\/GettyImages-106743647.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075207\/GettyImages-106743647-768x524.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"699\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Cat in the Hat and Audrey Geisel during Theodor \u201cDr. Seuss\u201d Geisel Honored Posthumously with Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Chris Polk\/FilmMagic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Helen\u2019s tragic suicide also cast a long shadow over their new life together, rippling through the close-knit community of La Jolla. It left \u2018a rather large ripple\u2019 among neighbors and friends. Audrey also had to divorce her husband to marry Geisel, and in the process, her daughters, then 9 and 14, were sent away to school.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dThey wouldn\u2019t have been happy with Ted, and Ted wouldn\u2019t have been happy with them,\u201d she candidly told The New York Times in 2000.<\/p>\n<p>Like Helen, Audrey was deeply invested in her husband\u2019s work. In fact, Geisel\u2019s books took on a new direction after Audrey pointed out that he was now writing for humanity, not just for children.<\/p>\n<p>In the later years of Geisel\u2019s life, Audrey took on the dual role of wife and personal assistant. When Geisel began losing his vision due to glaucoma in 1975, she became his \u2018eyes\u2019 and \u2018driver\u2019 Audrey even took charge of his appearance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dI created the beard. He had a nose that was looking for a beard all his life,\u201d Audrey told The New York Times.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-dr-seuss-cause-of-death\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dr. Seuss cause of death<\/h2>\n<p>By the late 1980s, Geisel\u2019s health began to deteriorate significantly. The beloved children\u2019s book author was diagnosed with a brain tumor.<\/p>\n<p>Although doctors successfully removed the brain tumor, Geisel faced several more years of grueling treatments.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-inline-featured-image wp-caption alignnone\">\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-main-thumbnail size-main-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12-664x350.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12-664x350.jpg 664w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12-400x210.jpg 400w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12-412x216.jpg 412w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075949\/seuss12.jpg 1200w\" alt=\"\" width=\"664\" height=\"350\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>I grew up reading Dr. Seuss books and so did my kids.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The whimsical genius behind beloved classics like\u00a0<em>The Cat in the Hat<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>Green Eggs and Ham<\/em>\u00a0enchanted generations with his imaginative illustrations and rhythmic tales.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-4c7ee5d5cc043c3bd1f734842454fe1b\" class=\"newsner-4c7ee5d5cc043c3bd1f734842454fe1b newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"newsner-520082009\" class=\"newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"bb-iawr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb_iawr\">\n<div id=\"bb-wr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb-media bb_wrapper bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\" data-flags=\"{}\" data-softembargoremainingtime=\"0\" data-sid=\"l1DvwlLTs89r\" data-isready=\"true\" data-autoplaynextremainingtime=\"0\">\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-content-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-poster-layer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img alt=\"\" \/><img alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-timeline-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-subtitle-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-subtitledisplay\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-commercial-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-skin-layer bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\">\n<div class=\"bb-skin-container phase-init svelte-ft9qq1 playing\" lang=\"en\" tabindex=\"0\" data-cy=\"skin-mode-main\" aria-label=\"Blue Billywig Video Player\">\n<div class=\"cols-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"main-col svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"loading-overlay no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"keyboard-feedback no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-gpabtz\">\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container left svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-spacer-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"center-button-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-spacer-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container right svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"logo-overlay svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chrome svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"header-area svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-bar svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata-wrapper svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata svelte-ft9qq1\" role=\"contentinfo\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"share-button bar-button svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-tooltip-bridge svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"button-tooltip svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"tooltip svelte-cqgi39\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-content left svelte-cqgi39\">\n<div class=\"text svelte-cqgi39\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"center-controls-layer svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"big-button big-play-pause-button svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"center-area svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"chrome-bottom-shadow svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-context-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>But I had no idea that there was a very dark chapter in his life \u2014 a chapter that involves words like \u201dinfidelity\u201d and \u201dsuicide.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154843\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-scaled.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1968px) 100vw, 1968px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-scaled.jpg 1968w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-768x999.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-1181x1536.jpg 1181w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074726\/Theodor_Seuss_Geisel_01037v-1574x2048.jpg 1574w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1968\" height=\"2560\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Library of Congress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Whether you know who Dr. Seuss is or not, chances are you\u2019ve encountered his books or illustrations. For older generations, he\u2019s a beloved icon, while younger readers might recognize him primarily as the creator of the mischievous\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.newsner.com\/tag\/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas\/\">Grinch<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-db518c129dca34122f51a21b3859993f\" class=\"newsner-db518c129dca34122f51a21b3859993f newsner-incide_content_once\">\n<div id=\"newsner-1846483750\" class=\"newsner-incide_content_once\">\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article-thumbnails\" class=\"trc_related_container tbl-trecs-container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_thumbnails-mid\" data-placement-name=\"Mid Article Thumbnails\">\n<div class=\"trc_rbox_container\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"trc_wrapper_4530338068\" class=\"trc_rbox thumbnails-mid trc-content-organic\">\n<div id=\"trc_header_4530338068\" class=\"trc_rbox_header trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div class=\"trc_header_ext\">\n<div class=\"logoDiv link-attribution\"><a class=\"trc_desktop_attribution_link trc_attribution_position_top\" href=\"https:\/\/popup.taboola.com\/en\/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=newsner-newsneren&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-mid:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails:\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" aria-label=\"Taboola Disclosure\">by Taboola<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"trc_rbox_header_span\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\">You May Like<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"outer_4530338068\" class=\"trc_rbox_outer\">\n<div id=\"rbox-t2m\" class=\"trc_rbox_div trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div id=\"internal_trc_4530338068\">\n<div class=\"videoCube trc_spotlight_item origin-default textItem thumbnail_top videoCube_1_child trc-first-recommendation trc-spotlight-first-recommendation trc_excludable\" data-item-id=\"~~V1~~3641584395877996371~~NpBcPlfw7TAvHEMjYoAJiw\" data-item-title=\"Donald Trump releases JFK files, and fans all say the same thing\" data-item-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/03\/20092140\/TFJ.jpg\" data-item-syndicated=\"false\">\n<div class=\"thumbBlock_holder\">\n<div class=\"videoCube_aspect\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"item-label-href\" title=\"Donald Trump releases JFK files, and fans all say the same thing\" href=\"https:\/\/en.newsner.com\/news\/donald-trump-releases-jfk-files-and-fans-all-say-the-same-thing\/\" target=\"_parent\"><span class=\"video-label-box trc-main-label\"><span class=\"video-label video-title trc_ellipsis\" role=\"link\">Donald Trump releases JFK files, and fans all say the same thing<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"trc_user_exclude_btn\" title=\"Remove this item\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_exclude_overlay trc_fade\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_exclude_undo_btn\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_clearer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>When we look at the actual numbers, there\u2019s no doubt: Dr. Seuss stands as one of the most significant children\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154842\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074634\/geisel1.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074634\/geisel1.jpg 864w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074634\/geisel1-768x613.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"864\" height=\"690\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Library of Congress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>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\u2019s private life, there\u2019s a dark chapter that many are unaware of.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-dr-seuss-first-wife\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dr. Seuss first wife<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-789710624\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_154814_1\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"COfyrNLAnowDFXlWpAQd66MiCA\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"6\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-156f93d0a1126e47a5e484540b3b4b3e\" class=\"newsner-156f93d0a1126e47a5e484540b3b4b3e newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>In England, Geisel met his future wife, Helen Palmer, who would have a significant impact on him. She was six years older than him.<\/p>\n<p>Helen, raised in the affluent Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.newsner.com\/tag\/brooklyn\/\">Brooklyn<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154844\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074818\/helen23.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"390\" height=\"577\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Helen_Palmer_(writer)#\/media\/File:Helen_Palmer_1924_Passport_Photo.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wikipedia Commons \/ Familysearch<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201dTed\u2019s 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,\u201d Helen later recalled.<\/p>\n<p>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\u00a0<em>Judge<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>Life<\/em>, and he was paid in due bills, not dollars.<\/p>\n<p>Helen couldn\u2019t 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:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have \u2018em, and I\u2019ll entertain \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Helen and Geisel worked together closely, and she followed her husband when he got a job in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.newsner.com\/tag\/hollywood\/\">Hollywood<\/a>. When the documentary\u00a0<em>Design for Death<\/em>\u00a0won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Helen was credited as a co-writer alongside Geisel.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-years-of-pain\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Years of pain<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2019s books had brought him, he refused to switch to an electric typewriter, deeming it \u201ctoo sophisticated.\u201d Helen joked that when her husband wasn\u2019t working, he indulged in his \u201conly two extravagances\u201d: chain-smoking cigarettes and arranging rocks in his desert garden.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-706368753\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_154814_2\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CPaT3tfAnowDFaxCpAQdA1Mj0Q\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"7\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-5f7b2c7643701f0ea5ed399731ac6333\" class=\"newsner-5f7b2c7643701f0ea5ed399731ac6333 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>Helen managed the financial matters, which bored him, and organized dinner parties, which exhausted him. According to the biography\u00a0<em>Dr. Seuss &amp; Mr. Geisel<\/em>, she\u00a0handled all the shopping, and when publishers suggested book tours or interviews, only Helen could persuade the reluctant author to leave his tower.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, she also worked on several of her own books.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154845\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074928\/GettyImages-1558738313.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074928\/GettyImages-1558738313.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06074928\/GettyImages-1558738313-768x576.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Helen also co-founded the \u201cBeginner Books\u201d imprint \u2014 you might recognize\u00a0<em>the Cat in the Hat logo<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 in 1957. She is said to have been the driving force behind many of Geisel\u2019s works, though she never received full credit for it.<\/p>\n<p>The close collaboration persisted until Helen began to experience significant health issues. While Geisel was at the height of his professional career, his marriage was facing turmoil. Helen had developed\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/guillain-barre-syndrome\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20362793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Guillain-Barr\u00e9 Syndrome<\/a>, a rare autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the nerves, leading to numbness and muscle weakness.<\/p>\n<p>The last dozen years of Helen Geisel\u2019s life were marked by pain, with her symptoms also including partial paralysis.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-helen-s-last-words\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Helen\u2019s last words<\/h2>\n<p>After suffering through her pain for more than a decade, Helen reached a breaking point. The burden became too much, and she began to consider ending her life.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Geisel had grown distant from his wife and allegedly began an affair with a family friend, Audrey Stone Dimond, who was also married with two daughters<\/p>\n<p>Depressed and likely\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20100307033137\/https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2000\/11\/29\/nyregion\/public-lives-mrs-seuss-hears-a-who-and-tells-about-it.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">troubled by the suspicions of her husband\u2019s affair<\/a>, Helen made the heartbreaking decision to end her life. She died by\u00a0suicide\u00a0with an\u00a0overdose\u00a0of\u00a0barbiturates\u00a0on October 23, 1967.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-510480324\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_154814_3\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CO7k8t7AnowDFbRwpAQdg1cIjw\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_2__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_2\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_2\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"8\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-e1b666cea74dc403b62463f563f9b5ac\" class=\"newsner-e1b666cea74dc403b62463f563f9b5ac newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>A letter addressed to her husband was found near her lifeless body:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Dear Ted, What has happened to us? I don\u2019t know. I feel myself in a spiral, going down down down, into a black hole from which there is no escape, no brightness. And loud in my ears from every side I hear, \u201cfailure, failure, failure\u2026\u201d I love you so much \u2026 I am too old and enmeshed in everything you do and are, that I cannot conceive of life without you \u2026 My going will leave quite a rumor but you can say I was overworked and overwrought. Your reputation with your friends and fans will not be harmed \u2026 Sometimes think of the fun we had all thru the years ..<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154846\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075141\/GettyImages-3204971.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075141\/GettyImages-3204971.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075141\/GettyImages-3204971-768x518.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"691\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">American writer and illustrator Dr Seuss points towards something in the distance while his wife Helen prepares to take a picture outside their home in La Jolla, California, April 25, 1957. (Photo by Gene Lester\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Seuss later described his despair after Helen\u2019s death:<\/p>\n<p>\u201dI didn\u2019t know whether to kill myself, burn the house down, or just disappear and get lost,\u201d he said, according to the book\u00a0<em>Dr. Seuss &amp; Mr. Geisel<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Geisel\u2019s niece, Peggy, remarked, \u201dWhatever Helen did, she did it out of absolute love for Ted.\u201d Meanwhile, secretary Julie Olfe described Palmer\u2019s death as \u201dher last and greatest gift to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-inside-the-affair\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inside the affair<\/h2>\n<p>Eight months after Helen\u2019s death, in August 1968, Geisel married Audrey Dimond, who was 18 years his junior. The couple exchanged vows at the Washoe County Courthouse in Reno, Nevada, with no friends in attendance. Instead of a traditional celebration, Dr. Seuss broke the news by sending a letter to his friends.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dAudrey and I are going to be married [\u2026] I am acquiring two daughters, aged nine and fourteen. I am rebuilding the house to take care of the influx. I am 64 years old. I am marrying a woman eighteen years younger\u2026 I have not flipped my lid. This is not a sudden nutty decision\u2026 This is an inevitable, inescapable conclusion [\u2026] All I can ask you is to try to believe in me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Audrey first met Geisel and his wife, Helen Palmer, at a party in La Jolla, the scenic seaside neighborhood of San Diego. Even then, there was an undeniable spark between them, a connection that would later grow into a full-blown love affair.<\/p>\n<p>While Helen was gravely ill, Geisel found solace in Audrey.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-650463507\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_154814_4\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CKGIruXAnowDFQhCpAQdo4I2yg\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_3__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_3\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_3\" width=\"464\" height=\"386\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"9\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-4741e22044ead18908f316298a146db8\" class=\"newsner-4741e22044ead18908f316298a146db8 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201dThe feeling was that at his age you grab for the gusto. You don\u2019t wait. You don\u2019t think you have that much time,\u201d Audrey later reflected.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154847\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075207\/GettyImages-106743647.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075207\/GettyImages-106743647.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075207\/GettyImages-106743647-768x524.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"699\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Cat in the Hat and Audrey Geisel during Theodor \u201cDr. Seuss\u201d Geisel Honored Posthumously with Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Chris Polk\/FilmMagic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Helen\u2019s tragic suicide also cast a long shadow over their new life together, rippling through the close-knit community of La Jolla. It left \u2018a rather large ripple\u2019 among neighbors and friends. Audrey also had to divorce her husband to marry Geisel, and in the process, her daughters, then 9 and 14, were sent away to school.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dThey wouldn\u2019t have been happy with Ted, and Ted wouldn\u2019t have been happy with them,\u201d she candidly told The New York Times in 2000.<\/p>\n<p>Like Helen, Audrey was deeply invested in her husband\u2019s work. In fact, Geisel\u2019s books took on a new direction after Audrey pointed out that he was now writing for humanity, not just for children.<\/p>\n<p>In the later years of Geisel\u2019s life, Audrey took on the dual role of wife and personal assistant. When Geisel began losing his vision due to glaucoma in 1975, she became his \u2018eyes\u2019 and \u2018driver\u2019 Audrey even took charge of his appearance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dI created the beard. He had a nose that was looking for a beard all his life,\u201d Audrey told The New York Times.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-dr-seuss-cause-of-death\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dr. Seuss cause of death<\/h2>\n<p>By the late 1980s, Geisel\u2019s health began to deteriorate significantly. The beloved children\u2019s book author was diagnosed with a brain tumor.<\/p>\n<p>Although doctors successfully removed the brain tumor, Geisel faced several more years of grueling treatments.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-379567124\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_154814_5\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CNKev-rAnowDFY0u-wMd7O00kA\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_4__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_4\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_4\" width=\"464\" height=\"386\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"a\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-f2e7232015670a3d82f1dc0d544e5c61\" class=\"newsner-f2e7232015670a3d82f1dc0d544e5c61 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154849\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075328\/shutterstock_132219401.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075328\/shutterstock_132219401.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075328\/shutterstock_132219401-768x622.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"810\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Despite undergoing extensive radiation and chemotherapy for palate cancer over the past nine years, he still lost part of his jaw to the disease. In the final weeks of his life, as his health declined due to multiple ailments, he was forced to communicate more through scrawled notes on paper.<\/p>\n<p>Theodor Geisel passed away on September 24, 1991, at his home in La Jolla. He was at 87.<\/p>\n<p>A family spokeswoman announced that there would be no funeral services and that Geisel\u2019s remains were to be cremated. His ashes were later scattered in the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-dr-seuss-last-words\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dr. Seuss last words<\/h2>\n<p>As previously mentioned, during his final days, Geisel could mostly communicate through short notes. His last words were related to his work on an oral history of his life. A close friend, Neil Morgan, who had been collaborating on this project, visited Geisel on his deathbed to see if Dr. Seuss had any final additions now that the work was nearly complete.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154850\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075427\/GettyImages-50478491.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"703\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to Morgan, Geisel smiled and said, \u2018Let me think about it.\u2019 He then penned down some words on a yellow piece of paper:<\/p>\n<p>\u201dWhenever things go a bit sour, in a job I\u2019m doing, I always tell myself, \u2019You can do better than this.\u2019. The best slogan I can think of to leave with the U.S.A would be, \u2019We can\u2026 and we\u2019ve got to\u2026 do better than his\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that Geisel was generally liberal or progressive in his politics, with many of his books reflecting themes of environmentalism, anti-war sentiment, and social justice.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-audrey-geisel-s-death\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Audrey Geisel\u2019s death<\/h2>\n<p>After Geisel\u2019s death, Audrey realized the need to protect her husband\u2019s name and legacy. She founded Dr. Seuss Enterprises and took on the role of CEO. In this capacity, she served as executive producer for the animated adaptations of several of Seuss\u2019s books.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-1442585144\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_154814_6\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CKz37vHAnowDFT9OpAQd-EIUtw\">\n<p>Following her husband\u2019s passing, Audrey donated many of his letters, original drawings, manuscripts, and other materials to create a special collection. This collection, consisting of over 20,000 items, is preserved in what is now known as the Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego.<\/p>\n<p>Audrey was described as an energetic presence who could light up a room. Her vibrant spirit was believed to have infused Ted\u2019s work, reflecting her relentless advocacy for his books and their publishing.<\/p>\n<p>She passed away \u201dpeacefully\u201d on December 19, 2018, at her home in La Jolla, California. She was 97.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-154848\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075231\/GettyImages-1134107254.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1006px) 100vw, 1006px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075231\/GettyImages-1134107254.jpg 1006w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/09\/06075231\/GettyImages-1134107254-768x782.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1006\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Theodor Geisel\u2019s life story, books and legacy will undoubtedly endure for many years to come. His contributions to literature and the imaginative worlds he created have left an indelible mark on countless readers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Yet, like many of us, his private life was far from perfect, revealing the complexities and struggles that are a part of the human experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I grew up reading Dr. Seuss books and so did my kids. The whimsical genius behind beloved classics like\u00a0The Cat in the Hat\u00a0and\u00a0Green Eggs and Ham\u00a0enchanted generations with his imaginative illustrations and rhythmic tales. But I had no idea that there was a very dark chapter in his life \u2014 a chapter that involves words&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The dark truth about Dr. Seuss and his two wives - VM News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=9196\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The dark truth about Dr. Seuss and his two wives - VM News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I grew up reading Dr. Seuss books and so did my kids. 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The whimsical genius behind beloved classics like\u00a0The Cat in the Hat\u00a0and\u00a0Green Eggs and Ham\u00a0enchanted generations with his imaginative illustrations and rhythmic tales. 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