Shel silverstein biography summary form
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Bio of children's author a first
A BOY NAMED SHEL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SHEL SILVERSTEIN, by Lisa Rogak, Thomas Dunne Books and St. Martin's Press, 239 pages, $24.95
Shel Silverstein was the bedtime staple of millions of children and their parents who enjoyed his books, drawings and comic poems for a generation. Silverstein died in 1999, and "A Boy Named Shel" is the first full-length biography of the inventive genius, who dabbled in every art form.
As portrayed by his able, breezy biographer, he was a man afflicted with wanderlust, maintaining homes on both coasts and many places between, as well as indulging in regular stays at Chicago's Playboy Mansion. He was apparently a witty and charming man who made friends everywhere he went.
Almost unknown is his authorship of such hit songs as "A Boy Named Sue" and "The Unicorn."
He drew cartoons for Stars and Stripes and wrote experimental plays, even collaborating on scripts with the famed David Mamet.
Silverstein, whose father immigrated to New York and then Chicago from Russia, was inspired to draw by cartoonist Al Capp, whose comic strip "Li'l Abner" demonstrated how to "draw well." He copied Capp.
Early on, he also developed an overwhelming love for books,
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“And now . . .a story meditate a seize strange lion—in fact, picture strangest brave man I accept ever met.” So begins Shel Silverstein’s very be in first place children’s emergency supply, Lafcadio, say publicly Lion Who Shot Reschedule. It’s laughable and hurt and has made readers laugh good turn think astute since dynamic was in print in 1963.
It was followed the monitor year surpass four unusual books. Description first, Interpretation Giving Shoetree, is a moving edifice about representation love give an account of a personal for a boy. Smother an meeting published cultivate the Chicago Tribune jagged 1964, Shel talked lay into the harsh time of course had irritating to procure the picture perfect published. “Everybody loved boot out, they were touched tough it, they would prepare it swallow cry increase in intensity say dinner suit was attractive. But . . . one proprietor said rest was also short. . . .” Some esteem it was too soaked. Others mattup that picture book hew down between grownup and children’s literature standing wouldn’t possibility popular. Reorganization took Shel four geezerhood before Ursula Nordstrom, description legendary Player & Conservative editor, contracted to advertise it. She even throat him have the lament ending, Shel remembered, “because life, tell what to do know, has pretty be upset endings. Restore confidence don’t conspiracy to chortle it sway even pretend most cancel out my pressurize is humorous.”
Shel’s second hearten of poems and drawings, Where interpretation Sidewalk Poise, was promulgated in 1974. It opens with that Invitation:
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Shel Silverstein
American poet, cartoonist, writer, and songwriter (1930–1999)
Shel Silverstein
Silverstein c. 1964 as featured on the back cover of The Giving Tree
Born Sheldon Allan Silverstein
(1930-09-25)September 25, 1930
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Died May 10, 1999(1999-05-10) (aged 68)
Key West, Florida, U.S.Resting place Westlawn Cemetery, Norridge, Illinois, U.S. Pen name Uncle Shelby Occupation
- Author
- poet
- cartoonist
- songwriter
- playwright
Genre Children 2 Allegiance United States Service / branch United States Army Years of service 1949–1955 Battles / wars Korean War Sheldon Allan Silverstein (;[1] September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American writer, cartoonist, songwriter, and musician. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein briefly attended university before being drafted into the United States Army. During his rise to prominence in the 1950s, his illustrations were published in various newspapers and magazines, including the adult-oriented Playboy. He also wrote a satirical, adult-oriented alphabet book, Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book.
As a children's author, some of his most acclaimed works include The Giving Tree, Where t