The Simpsons Uncensored Family Album
The Simpsons Uncensored Family Album
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Book Information
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The Simpsons Uncensored Family Album (ISBN 0-06-096582-7) is a book, written by Matt Groening, that mimics a family album that the Simpson family would have. Among the things it reveals is the birth date of Bart Simpson, as well as the family trees of the Bouvier and Simpson families. Despite the fact that these family trees have never been directly contradicted in the show their canonicity is still unknown.
The Simpson tree can be found on the inside of the front cover, while the Bouvier family appears on the inside of the back cover. An interesting note is that Charles Montgomery Burns is included in the Simpson tree as Grandpa's fourth cousin via marriage. Homer is descended from Scandinavians and American Indians, which was even mentioned in the episode "Little Big Girl", while Marge is descended from the French. Another interesting note is that despite Amos Graycomb and Moselle Stemple marrying and having four children together, they are in fact second cousins.
The album begins with photographs and memorabilia from the ancestors of the two families, and then progresses with baby photos of Homer and Marge, and then profiles them as they grow up and fall in love. Finally it shows photographs and memorabilia from Bart's, Lisa's and Maggie's childhoods.
Conflicts
Several episodes have featured Simpson or Bouvier ancestors, and they generally look like they do in the Family Album. There are notable conflicts with more recent information from the TV show, as the book was published in 1991. Homer's mother's name was revealed in future episodes as Mona Simpson, not Penelope Olsen (or Simpson). In her first televised appearance, "Penelope Olsen" is mentioned as one of her aliases while on the lam. Also, Marge's mother's name was revealed as Jacqueline Bouvier, not Ingrid Gurney (or Bouvier).
Extended family members are rarely seen in the show, other than frequent appearances of Abe, Patty and Selma, and occasional appearance of Mona. On one flash-forward episode, Maggie has grown up and has a daughter called Maggie, Jr..
Also, as the series progresses new family members are revealed, such as another illegitimate child (Abbie) fathered by Abe Simpson and a British woman named Edwina.
In "Much Apu About Nothing", Abe Simpson reveals his ancestors were from an English speaking country believed to be Scotland, although the authenticity of his story is questionable.
The book also states that Lisa used to have a normal hairstyle that was changed after Homer cut it. This conflicts with flashback scenes showing Lisa as a baby (with her spikes) and her as a young child.
A large conflict is in the episode "The Color Yellow". This episode shows Lisa's ancestors as Mabel and Hiram Simpson, Mabel later marrying Virgil Simpson. In the book's family tree, Virgil and Mabel would be in the same place as Garwood and Clowta Simpson. Virgil and Mabel's, Abraham Simpson I, would be in the same place as Howland Simpson.
