October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014
San Francisco native and acclaimed folklore author Robert San Souci died December 19, 2014 following a head injury resulting from a fall. He was 68.
Although Mr. San Souci was responsible for dozens of picture books, he was best known for The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South (Dial, 1989), a Creole adaptation of the Cinderella story set in rural Louisiana. 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 glory in battle, was the basis for the Disney film Mulan, and he also wrote the story for the movie.
Mr. San Souci is survived by his brothers, Michael and Daniel; sister Ellen; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends in his Castro neighborhood. Please join in a celebration of Mr. San Souci's life at the Twin Peaks Tavern, 401 Castro Street Saturday, May 9 at noon.