The Elephant Man : A Study in Human Dignity
by Ashley Montagu
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ashley MontaguEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2001-08
ISBN: 0925417416
Number of pages: 138
Publisher: Acadian House Publishing
Book Reviews of The Elephant Man : A Study in Human Dignity
Book Review: Montagu is a Disservice to the Story of the Elephant Man
Summary: 3 Stars
Treves' writings I would give 5 stars, but the book as a whole I give 3.
I would only recommend this book for the short story that Frederick Treves wrote and for the pictures, paintings, etc., that are in this book. I believe Ashley Montagu did an extreme disservice to John Merrick (Joseph as he likes to call him and was his given name, it seems). He also did quite the disservice to Treves. Using Treves' book, only to discredit him! It looks to me that Montagu only wanted to further his own book and his beliefs on people who can't quite come to grips with what John Merrick went through. It is unbelievable how much Montagu contradicts himself --- and he doesn't even seem to notice. He was boring ... and this is not the book I thought I was buying! Treves' story of the man he knew and helped, was so beautifully written, so real, and so touching. Montagu tries through out the book to almost say, "I am right and Treves is wrong." His findings have no proof. His logic makes no sense! Either Treves is a liar and Montagu is right --- or Treves is telling the truth and Montagu is just furthering his beliefs on people and because he thinks every person has to have a loving mom to be nice, etc. Treves had no reason to lie. All he says makes sense. I believe Treves without a doubt. I just wish there was more that he had written. Montagu would have you believe that John Merrick was only maltreated severely (if that) for a few years. Treves says it was all his life. There is no way that Montagu could be correct (and most of what he says has no proof) and for John Merrick to be who he was ... i.e. react to things as he did ... to not want to talk about the past, etc. A few years just isn't going to do to a person, what your whole life would ... meaning, being treated horribly, no love, no talking, no nothing ... a nightmare. John's earliest memory is the workhouse. How, then, could it not be of his mother, if what Montagu says is true that John had her up to almost eleven years old? Because it's not true!
As you read Treves beautiful story of John Merrick ... don't let Montagu ruin it for you. Read it to see how much Montagu doesn't make sense, how it doesn't add up, and how he has no proof. Even the so called "Autobiography of Joseph Carey Merrick" supposedly by Merrick, has no proof of authorship! His handler could have written it, or told John what to write. Then, when you're done with the book, read only Treves again, and take in what Treves was telling us. What a humble, gentle, loving, true human being John Merrick was. And realize, that yes, anything is possible through the Lord ... and I believe the Lord was with John and that John trusted in the Lord, and that he is in Heaven today.
The book is worth it to buy for the Treves story and the pictures. But that's all.
Summary of The Elephant Man : A Study in Human Dignity
After more than a century, the mystery of "The Elephant Man" has been solved. This fascinating story, which has touched the hearts and imaginations of readers throughout the world for over a century, is now complete. The mystifying question has been answered: How could this poor, deformed fellow, so cruelly treated by his fellowman for so long, turn out to be such a gentle, loving creature? Read about it in the new Third Edition of The Elephant Man by Ashley Montagu -- the book whose first edition inspired the movie and the Tony Award-winning play by the same name.General Books
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