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82nd out of 338 books
—
933 voters
The True History of the Elephant Man
Joseph Carey Merrick, born in England on August 5, 1952, is better known as The Elephant Man. Through horrible physical deformities which were almost impossible to describe, he spent much of his life exhibited as a fairground freak until even nineteenth-century sensibilities could take no more. Hounded, persecuted and starving, he ended up at London's Liverpool Street Stat...more
Paperback, 213 pages
Published
August 15th 2001
by Allison & Busby
(first published 1980)
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An excellent and obviously well researched biography of this most intriguing man, who can surely be counted as one of the most gentle souls to ever grace us.
While some of the details did get a little long winded (for example, there was more then enough mentioned on the Victorian Educational System and the achievements of the many Doctors, Showmen, and their contemporaries who studied and worked with Joseph, fascinating though it was) from time to time, it happily includes Joseph's own short Auto...more
While some of the details did get a little long winded (for example, there was more then enough mentioned on the Victorian Educational System and the achievements of the many Doctors, Showmen, and their contemporaries who studied and worked with Joseph, fascinating though it was) from time to time, it happily includes Joseph's own short Auto...more
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Although I've always been a great fan of the movies and literature I've absorbed regarding the life of Joseph Merrick, this book offered something the others could not: an honest, insightful view into the life of a truly unique individual. By scouring through the full breadth of resources at their disposal, the authors manage to paint an engaging picture of the world in which the Elephant Man existed. Interviews from those who knew him (and there were others aside from Dr. Treves), details about...more
We're so used to novels like Phantom of the Opera, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast, featuring "deformed" men, often looking for love from some beautiful girl, that it's hard to remember that this story is NOT fiction; like it says in the title -- it's the true history of the Elephant Man. And there's no girl, no romance, no happy or semi-happy ending to tie everything neatly together. Just the story of a young man trying to survive.
Although the authors can go into WAY too much deta...more
Although the authors can go into WAY too much deta...more
Authors Howell and Ford, having done extremely thorough research, can actually claim the term "definitive" for their biography. Perhaps more remarkably, through their powers of description, they bring to life Joseph Carey Merrick and the Victorian England in which he lived for modern readers. Before picking this book up, I had only the vaguest knowledge of the so-called Elephant Man, and I found it a fascinating read.
A fascinating read. I have had a long fascination with Joseph Merrick, in college I stage managed the theatrical production which only fueled my interest. This book did an excellent job of introducing characters and drawing a time line of Merrick's life. The detailed involvement of Dr. Treves was exceptionally well done and - from what I had known and read before - certain details were clarified or more clearly stated.
My favorite part of the book happens to be the three Appendixes at the end of...more
My favorite part of the book happens to be the three Appendixes at the end of...more
If you ever think life's dealt you an unfair hand, you should read this book. No one who reads it will remain unchanged. It's the story of Joseph Carey Merrick (B: 1862), who lived with a severly disfiguring disease. The story is told extensively and compassionately. To hear Merrick's story is to see a man, although shunned by society, shone from within.
Contrary to what Goodreads' summary says, Joseph Merrick wasn't born in 1952!
Interesting, inspirational biography about Joseph Carey Merrick (The Elephant Man). Am sorry to get rid of this but I'm decluttering before a big move and have too many books!
Interesting, inspirational biography about Joseph Carey Merrick (The Elephant Man). Am sorry to get rid of this but I'm decluttering before a big move and have too many books!
A lot of things I didnt know about Joeseph Merrick in his short life history. An interseting read of times and how the human spirit has never really changed. Also a lot of extras at the end, including different peoples writings and articles,great read.
Read this book, and never, ever have the audacity to feel sorry for yourself again.
"Was I so tall, could reach the pole,
Or grasp the ocean with a span;
I would be measured by the soul,
The mind's the standard of the man."
"Was I so tall, could reach the pole,
Or grasp the ocean with a span;
I would be measured by the soul,
The mind's the standard of the man."
While the story of the Elephant Man is a sad one the book did nothing to really enlighten the reader or present Joseph Merrick's character. It was a straight, all facts sort of compilation of the things that happened to Merrick told with a very dry presentation.
Incredible read, couldn't put the book down. Extremely sad yet it does give a glimpse of the goodness of mankind and not just its ugliness.
"I could not read past page 15. Horrible." That was my reaction when I first started the book. The Elephant Man was a required read during my senior year of high school. As I read the first 15 pages, I thought you would have to have a gun pointed at your head to finish this boring novel. Well, I flipped to the back to read the ending. After reading the section Dr. Treves wrote himself, I went back and read the whole book. It is exceptionally good. I cried in almost every chapter. If you are deba...more
A very profoundly rendering biography.
Interesting read, adds insight into Joseph Merrick's real life.
So, not elephantiosis. Who knew? Michael Howell, that's who. This book was a little bit gross, and it didn't tell the story from the elephant man's perspective. I think that's because he had trouble communicating with everyone except one doctor. The story is told from Treves' perspective, and he probably knew the most about john merrick. I thought it was very interesting, if not all that well-written.
I have always wondered how a man with so many problems faced the world. I read this book to see how he must have felt. Unfortunately there is very little from John's own mouth. However, I found this book very interesting and of great worth. It is well researched and compares and contrasts information from various books to allow the reader to draw a conclusion from the facts. Nicely written!
I just really couldn't get into this one. Factually, it wasn't giving me anything I hadn't already learned from other sources, and there has been some interesting new information since the last edition of this book was published. Beyond the factual account, the book didn't seem to have a lot of insight in it, so I abandoned it part way through.
I love Joseph Merick and this is the most complete and reliable history of his life available. Excellent read.
Mar 12, 2010
Therese
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biography-and-memoir
Heartbreaking...
May 15, 2013
Jenn M
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Astrid
added it
Apr 23, 2013
Jessica
marked it as to-read
Apr 22, 2013
Kasane Teto
marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2013
Iroulito91
marked it as to-read
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