FICTION

THE SEVEN LADY GODIVAS by Dr. Seuss (Random House: $9.95; unpaginated; illustrated). The original book, published in 1939, is worth $1,000 in mint condition--a useless blivet of information if ever there was one, since no Dr. Suess book remains in mint condition for more than 7.23 minutes (there’s been a study). They are read to oneself, to one’s friends, to one’s children, one’s children’s children by now. To the dorm dog, the house mouse, the cat in the hat. The pages get comfortable, and who’s going to sell one anyway?

This one’s different--a little. Firstly, it’s the good doctor’s firstly book. Secondly, it’s purported to be in prose, which is another blivet, since Suess’ prose is more poetic than Myron, Kelley and Sheets combined. Thirdly, it is a historical document: the true story of the Godivas. Dr. Seuss lays bare the conundrum of not one but seven Lady G’s, each betrothed to a Peeping: Tom, of course, and Peeping Dick and Peeping Harry, down to Peeping Frelinghuysen. . . .

For those of a whimsical turn, pure delight. For the rest--who needs ‘em?