American Sideshow : An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers
by Marc Hartzman
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Book Summary Information
Author: Marc HartzmanEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2005-11-17
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: J eremy P Tarcher / Penguin
Book Reviews of American Sideshow : An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers
Book Review: American Sideshow
Summary: 5 Stars
Great sideshow book!
This book covers more performers and has more photos than any of my
other sideshow books. Hartzman shows us who these performers are, not
just as freaks, but as people. He gets into their lives, their loves,
and their triumphs. Light humor and a casual style make the book very
readable and enjoyable. Turn to any page and you'll read something
amazing - something to tell people at work about the next day.
I read another reviewer's comment below who said Hartzman stated
too many sideshow claims as fact, but he clearly stated in the
beginning of the book that giants' and midgets' heights, fat peoples'
weights, and other "facts" were often exaggerated. This way he didn't
have to say it every time he mentions a height or weight, which
would've gotten repetitive. This reviewer also wished he cited his
sources, which he clearly did in his bibliography.
Get this book! It's American history at its most fascinating.
More American Sideshow : An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers reviews:
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Summary of American Sideshow : An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers
A fascinating look into the history of the American sideshow and its performers. Learn what's real, what's fake, and what's just downright bizarre.You've probably heard of Tom Thumb. The Elephant Man. Chang and Eng, the original Siamese twins. But what about Eli Bowen, the legless acrobat? Myrtle Corbin, the four-legged woman? Or Prince Randian, the human torso? All these and more were stars during the heyday of the American sideshow, from 1840 to 1950. American Sideshow chronicles the lives of truly amazing performers, examining these brave and extraordinary curiosities, not just as sideshow attractions, but as people, delving into the lives they led and how they were able to triumph over their abnormalities.
American Sideshow discusses the rise and fall of the original sideshows and their subsequent replacement by today's self-made freaks. With the progress of modern medicine, the physical abnormalities are disappearing, either through treatment or prevention; and, ironically, those same technological advancements now make it possible to change our bodies at will. It's amazing how easy it is to have your tongue forked, horns surgically implanted, or your earlobes removed. There are also modern-day giants, fire-eaters, fire-breathers, sword-swallowers, glass-eaters, human blockheads, and, oh, so much more.
These fascinating personalities are celebrated through intimate biographies paired with stunning photographs. Approximately 200 performers from the past 160 years are featured, giving readers a comprehensive and sometimes astonishing view of the history of the American sideshow.
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