Horton Hears A Who!

SEUSS, Dr. [Theodor Geisel].

Item Number: 144928

New York: Random House, 1954.

First edition, later printing of this popular Dr. Seuss work. Quarto, original pictorial boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Near fine in a very good third issue dust jacket with the 250/250 price and Horton’s partial ear on the rear panel. Neat gift inscription to the front free endpaper, “To Meg Christmas 1960.”

Dr. Seuss began work on Horton Hears a Who! in the fall of 1953. The book's main theme, "a person's a person no matter how small", was Geisel's reaction to his visit to Japan, where the importance of the individual was an exciting new concept. Geisel, who had harbored strong anti-Japan sentiments before and during World War II, changed his views dramatically after the war and used this book as an allegory for the American post-war occupation of the country. It was adapted to film in 2008, the cast included Jim Carrey and Steve Carell.