How many errors can you find in this first paragraph of a review of Schulz and Peanuts?
Charles M. Schulz’s original syndicated comic strip, called L’il Folks, appeared in just seven newspapers. Shortly afterward, he renamed it Peanuts, and the rest is legend. At the time of Schulz’s death in 2000, the names of Charlie Brown, Linus and Lucy Van Pelt, Schroeder, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang were known to 300 million readers in 75 countries. Royalties from newspaper syndication, toys, games, TV specials, and commercials for Met Life and Ford brought in billions. Schulz’s international celebrity and monetary rewards should have added up to an immense satisfaction. But no, according to David Michaelis’s new biography.
It a surprise when a former editor of Time (one Stefan Kanfer) writes with the accuracy of a third grade book report…
