An image from the book The Seven Lady Godivas. Photo / Random House, Amazon.com
His best-known characters are famous for their clothes.
But the Cat in the Hat and the Fox in Socks have little in common with the stars of another Dr. Seuss tale.
Read more: New Dr. Seuss book uncovered
Indeed, the gang of naked sisters who star in The Seven Lady Godivas: The True Facts Concerning History's Barest Family, are famous for wearing no clothes at all.
The famed author, whose birthday yesterday is now celebrated as a national reading festival, wrote and illustrated the failed exhibitionist tome in 1939.
But despite his efforts to "draw the sexiest babes I could", it only sold 2,500 copies, and went out of print.
As a recent feature in Mashable details, the book retells the English legend of Lady Godiva - who rode naked through the streets of Coventry to protest her husband's unfair tax hikes.
However, Dr. Seuss altered the story by multiplying the number of nudes by seven - and making sure they stayed that way at all times, rather than just to prove a point.
In a foreword to the out-of-print tale, he wrote that he was correcting an inaccuracy in inserting six more naked women into the story - and that their nudity was a source of "pride".
Seuss, real name Theodor Geisel, wrote that he was in fact telling "a beautiful story of love, honor and scientific achievement".
Publishing the book was allegedly a condition for Random House, Seuss's new publisher, when he jumped ship to them.
However, it seems few agreed with his own high opinion of the bawdy tale. While 10,000 copies were printed, only 2,500 were ever bought.
He later accepted that the book was no good. According to The Atlantic, he said: "I attempted to draw the sexiest babes I could, but they came out looking absurd."
After the experience he turned his back on the adult audience. His New York Times obituary records him once saying: "I'd rather write for kids. They're more appreciative; adults are obsolete children, and the hell with them."
- Daily Mail
