Robert San Souci at a book signing with his brother Daniel, April 24th, 1987.
Robert Daniel San Souci (October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014) was an American children's book author known for his retellings of folktales for children. He often worked with his brother, Daniel San Souci, a children's book illustrator. He presented at conferences, trade shows, and in schools in the United States.[1] According to Mary M. Burns in Horn Book, his adaptations are typified by "impeccable scholarship and a fluid storytelling style."[2]
His version of the Chinese legend of a young woman who takes her father's place in war, posing as a man to fight the Tartars and winning the battle, was the basis for the Disney film Mulan; he wrote the story for the film.[3] His produced primarily picture books, which were often retellings of folklore, but he also contributed original works to the horror and fantasy genres as well as creating non-fiction works aimed at children and adults.[4] He was a regular contributor to a number of magazines, including Cobblestone, Faces, Calliope, and Appleseeds.[5]
Life and career
Inscription by San Souci to a young reader, September 8th, 1994.
Robert D. San Souci was born in San Francisco and raised nearby in Berkeley.[6]
In elementary school, San Souci wrote for the school newspaper; in high school, he worked on the school yearbook and had an essay printed in a book titled T.V. as Art. As a student at St. Mary's College, he took a variety of classes in creative writing, English and world literature. In graduate school, he studied folklore, myths and world religions.
San Souci adapted folktales into the titles The Samurai's Daughter, The Enchanted Tapestry, The Talking Eggs, Sukey and the Mermaid, Cut from the Same Cloth, The Hired Hand, A Weave of Words, and the Caldecott Honor book The Faithful Friend. He also produced the Short and Shivery and Dare to Be Scared series, an Arthurian sequence, and retellings of Native American myths, most of which are directed to middle school students. His work puts an emphasis on strong female protagonists.[7] San Souci was also a copywriter and a book editor. Prior to becoming a full-time author, he held jobs as a bookseller, editor, advertising copywriter, and theater and film reviewer.[8]
San Souci stated that he gave permission for others to retell his stories with credit.[9]
San Souci said of his first published book: "In 1978, my first book, The Legend of Scarface, was published and illustrated by my younger brother, Daniel San Souci. The book was highly acclaimed. I was lucky to have an artist/illustrator in the family – it's great working with Dan". Another time he said, "I love to travel by bus. I can sit and stare out the window and simply observe. I love to listen for the flow and rhythm of the language that different people use".[10] He once journeyed around the United States, drawing inspiration from local legends, folktales, and history for works such as Cut from the Same Cloth: American Women of Myth, Legend, and Tall Tale (1993) and Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend (1994).[11]
Death
Robert D. San Souci died on December 19, 2014, at the age of 68, following a head injury resulting from a fall.[12]
