SALLY SEAL

by Gant - Illus. Gaither ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

Subtitled: The Unexpurgated Love Life of H.I.H. the Grand Duchess of Cod Sardinska, the frontispiece warns that this is ""A Children's Book for ADULTS Only."" (That's O.K., the smeary wash drawings aren't up to juvenile picture book standards, anyway.) Like so many other books of this kind, the story is set in the Victorian and Edwardian eras and the illustrations linger over the leaden fripperies of those times. If Patrick Dennis had not guyed the third rate theatrical memoir to a fare-thee-well in Little Me, and satirists all the way back to Max Beerbohm had not ripped royal autobiography to elegant tatters, readers might have managed a quick itter over this. As it is, the rise and willing falls of Sally the seal (courtesan to consort to call girl) are a joke too familiar for present laughter. Quintessentially ""cute"", this might make it with non-readers as a nicely naughty sort of party gift. The author/illustrator is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, which portends review comment and testimonials from the theater wing.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: bolensky

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1964

Categories: NONFICTION