Mary Lasswell Smith

Mary Lasswell Smith (February 8, 1905 - July 19, 1994) was an American author of humorous novels about life in Southern California, Texas, Mexico, and Newark, New Jersey under the name Mary Lasswell.

Her first book, "Suds in Your Eye" (1942) published by Houghton Mifflin, was described as "a crazy, funny story" about three impoverished but high-spirited and beer-loving elderly women. "The book was unlike most of the novels coming out of Southern California at the time", wrote Beatrice Sherman in "The New York Times Book Review" on December 13, 1942. This book was adapted into a Broadway Play by Jack Kirkland in 1944.

"Suds in Your Eye" was followed by five other books about the same three women: Mrs. Feeley, Mrs. Rasmussen, and Miss Tinkham, plus their handyman, only known as "Old-Timer". These included "High Time" (1944), "One on the House" (1949), "Wait for the Wagon" (1951), "Tooner Schooner" (1953), and "Let's Go for Broke" (1962), all with illustrations by famed "The New Yorker" artist George Price. Their home base for most of the series was called "Noah's Ark", and was a junkyard in San Diego, but the third and fourth books were set during travels. These books consistently featured certain themes: the main characters faced financial disaster, usually were forced to take innovative measures to ensure a homeplace, rescued other people with problems, and acted as matchmakers.

Among Lasswell's other books were "Mrs. Rasmussen's Book of One-Arm Cookery" (1946), "I'll Take Texas" (1958), and "Tio Pepe" (1968). Lasswell was also an editorial writer for the "Houston Chronicle" in the 1960's.

Lasswell was born in Glasgow, Scotland of American parents on February 8, 1905, and grew up in Brownsville, Texas. She was married to Dr. Dudley Winn Smith, a surgeon.

She died at the Solvang Lutheran Home in Solvang, California of Alzheimer's disease.

Book List

Novels featuring Mrs. Feeley, Mrs. Rasmussen, and Miss Tinkham (illustrated by George Price):

*"Suds in Your Eye" (1942; also adapted as a play)
*"High Time" (1944)
*"One on the House" (1949)
*"Wait for the Wagon" (1951)
*"Tooner Schooner" (1953)
*"Let's Go for Broke" (1962)

Cookbooks

*"Mrs. Rasmussen's Book of One-Arm Cookery" (1946)
*"Mrs. Rasmussen's Book of One-Arm Cookery With Second Helpings" (1970; updated edition of previous)
*"Bread for the Living" (1948)

Other

*"Tio Pepe" (1963; illustrated by Robert MacLean)
*"I'll Take Texas" (1958, with Bob Pool; illustrated by Jo Alys Downs)
*"In Way of Progress" (1958)
*" Rags And Hope: The Recollections Of Val C. Giles, Four Years With Hood's Brigade, Fourth Texas Infantry 1861-1865" (1961)
*"John Henry Kirby: Prince of the Pines" (1967)

References

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907EED8153EF931A15754C0A962958260 "New York Times" obituary]
* [http://www.cah.utexas.edu/services/subject_guides/subject_guide_media.php Guide to Mary Lasswell Smith collection at University of Texas]
*worldcat id|lccn-n89-118390