Freaks
by Daniel P. Mannix
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Book Summary Information
Author: Daniel P. MannixEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-02
ISBN: 0965104257
Number of pages: 124
Publisher: Juno Books
Book Reviews of Freaks
Book Review: Captivating look at the human oddities of carnival shows
Summary: 5 Stars
Originally released in 1976, 'Freaks: We Who Are Not As Others' is a bit dated in that many of the people mentioned have since passed on. When first released, the book was quickly pulled for reasons I can only guess at, foremost it probably being too graphic for the times. Its large size and many pictures more than make up for its slimness (only 120 pages).
Author Daniel Mannix gives us and inside and personal look at the old-fashioned "Ten-In-One" show: the Freak Show. Mannix worked in the carnival business and personally knew many of the people he speaks about, such as Pricilla The Monkey Girl and Emmett The Alligator Man (who were happily married). Before "political correctness" and phrases like "Differently Abled" came along, the Ten-In-One was often a haven and a home for those born with birth defects.
Midgets, dwarves, giants, obese folk, "the human skeleton", bearded women, co-joined twins, those born without arms or legs, pinheads, hermaphrodites, skin conditions, the double-jointed, and deformities - all were welcomed at the Ten-In-One and many made a great deal of money at it. This isn't a book making fun of these oddities, its book that celebrates their differences, their lives, and their ability to love.
Mannix's prose is informative and conversational, the stories are true (though he admits a few have questionable roots), and the many pictures are captivating, graphic, and ... well, freakish. I found the book so absorbing that I read it through in one sitting. There's a lot of history addressed, from the court jesters of historic kings to an intimate look at the most famous Siamese twins Chang and Eng, to the reasons why its an insult to call a dwarf a midget or a midget a dwarf. Mannix keeps the book thoughtful and respectful while giving insight into the origin and history of the Freak Show.
Whether curious or simply researching, this is one of the best books ever written about the old-fashioned sideshows. If your interested in the subject, then don't miss out on this informative and graphic story of a group of amazing people living in the amazing world of the carnival. Enjoy!
Summary of Freaks
History. Cultural studies. Another long out-of-print classic book based on Mannix's personal acquaintence with sideshow stars such as the Alligator Man and the Monkey Woman, etc. Read all about the notorious love affairs of midgets; the amazing story of the elephant boy; the unusual amours of Jolly Daisy, the fat woman; the famous pinhead who inspired Verdi's RIGOLETTO; the tragedy of Betty Lou Williams and her parasitic twin; the black midget, only 34 inches tall, who was happily married to a 264-pound wife; the human torso who could sew, crochet and type; and bizarre accounts of normal humans turned into freaks -- either voluntarily or by evil design! 88 astounding photographs and additional material from the author's personal collection. RE/search has provided us with a moving glimpse at the rarified world of physical deformity; aglimpse that ultimately succeeds in its goal of humanizing the inhuman, revealing the beauty that lies behind the grotesque and in dramatically illustrating the triumph of the human spirit in thPerforming Arts Books
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