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Le Petomane: 1857-1945
A biography of an early 20th century French performer who cd sing tunes w/ his anus by controlled emission of gas.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
95 pages, hardback
First published January 1, 1967
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 9, 2019
He seemed to be alone on the stage and his backside had more to say than his face.
Joseph Pujol, father of ten and a baker by trade, had another more unusual talent that earned him fame and fortune during the late 19th century. Following an enema, he was able to produce a plethora of odorless emissions from his posterior. Yeah, he was a flatulist, a fartist . . . a professional farter.
Using his talented anus, he did impressions, and though capable of producing only four notes of the octave, "sang" popular tunes. He also used his bottom to play the flute and blow out a candle.
Now, that's entertainment!
He was a hit, and one of the biggest acts ever to play the Moulin Rouge. Audiences could not get enough.
The public and especially women fell about laughing. They would cry from laughing. Many fainted and fell down and had to be resuscitated.
This book is something of an oddity as it consists mostly of collected accounts by other authors, including a biography penned by one of Pujol's sons. There is also a detailed medical explanation for the entertainer's unique abilities, and a section on lawsuits by, and against Le Petomane. (?)
This is a slight read, though you do get a nice picture of a contented man who lived a happy life doing what came naturally.
Joseph Pujol, father of ten and a baker by trade, had another more unusual talent that earned him fame and fortune during the late 19th century. Following an enema, he was able to produce a plethora of odorless emissions from his posterior. Yeah, he was a flatulist, a fartist . . . a professional farter.
Using his talented anus, he did impressions, and though capable of producing only four notes of the octave, "sang" popular tunes. He also used his bottom to play the flute and blow out a candle.
Now, that's entertainment!
He was a hit, and one of the biggest acts ever to play the Moulin Rouge. Audiences could not get enough.
The public and especially women fell about laughing. They would cry from laughing. Many fainted and fell down and had to be resuscitated.
This book is something of an oddity as it consists mostly of collected accounts by other authors, including a biography penned by one of Pujol's sons. There is also a detailed medical explanation for the entertainer's unique abilities, and a section on lawsuits by, and against Le Petomane. (?)
This is a slight read, though you do get a nice picture of a contented man who lived a happy life doing what came naturally.
October 1, 2018
A short, sweet biography of Joseph Pujol, Le Petomane, a Moulin Rouge performer at the turn of the 19th century whose act was built around his ability to take in air through his anus and fart at will. He played musical instruments (with the help of a rubber tube), imitated animals and people, and "sang" songs. Audiences laughed so hard, the theater had to have nurses standing by to aid those who were overcome. I need a goddamn time machine.
July 28, 2021
An incredibly short and sweet read about a man who found fame from farting.
But he also had some legal battles, and some biological abilities that were impressive. He could “drink” up to 2 liters of water through his asshole, and did so after every bowel movement. I really envy that ability.
His act was more than just farting. He turned it into a performance art, and caused people to collapse in laughter. He was the highest paid performer at Moulin Rouge for years.
I’m amazed I hadn’t heard of him before.
But he also had some legal battles, and some biological abilities that were impressive. He could “drink” up to 2 liters of water through his asshole, and did so after every bowel movement. I really envy that ability.
His act was more than just farting. He turned it into a performance art, and caused people to collapse in laughter. He was the highest paid performer at Moulin Rouge for years.
I’m amazed I hadn’t heard of him before.
September 20, 2019
A wonderful little book about a wonderful, one off eccentric. I can't give any details about it because it will honestly spoil the joy of the dry humour and occasional poignancy that the writers give to such a ridiculous topic. A small wonder
August 29, 2020
Well, this was a weird and delightful way to spend an evening.
August 12, 2023
As much as I adore the cover and the subject, the Wikipedia article is probably a better read than this dry and meandering collection of letters and articles.
November 9, 2021
A guide to wind instruments.
January 28, 2021
Es un libro muy cortito que se lee en uno o dos días. Es un caso curioso de cómo alguien con este "talento" llegó a ser toda un estrella en el Moulin Rouge.
April 8, 2008
It's tempting to create a separate bkshelf just for farting - maybe it wd include "A Confederacy of Dunces" b/c of the dyspeptic main character. Who wdn't be interested in a bio of a guy who made a living entertaining people by farting tunes? Well, some people wd find that too low-brow but they'd probably read USA Today so go figger. This is a thin bio but I'm sure getting info on the guy wasn't easy. There's even a 1998 documentary made about him by the very interesting Igor Vamos. I think Baltimore poet David Franks might've done something that references him too. The tune lingers on.
November 11, 2008
Heartfelt account of a truly unique artist: blessed with an anatomically bizarre and unthinkably capacious rectum, colon and sphincter assembly, Josef Pujol mounted the stages of fin de siecle Paris as "Le Petomane." Crowds gasped as he extinguished candles metres away, anally whistled "La Marseillaise" and spewed fresh water in various directions with various hydro-rectal results. The profound humanity and warm-hearted story of this modest artist--a sincere, sweet-tempered personality untouched by the cynicism of his times--sends a breath of fragrant air in any reader's direction.
January 8, 2011
I love this book! It just goes to show you - sometimes truth is much stranger than fiction. Le Petomane (roughly translated as "the fartiste") was one the most popular stage acts at the famous Moulin Rouge theater. Thousands of people, including King Leopold of Belgium and Sigmund Freud, flocked to Paris to see Le Petomane's act, which involved a skillful assortment of farting feats. His biggest crowd pleaser involved farting out a well-known stage tune of the day! I kid you not!
May 3, 2012
"Joseph Pujol belongs to History." (15)
"He would stop breathing through his nose and mouth, take in air from his back passage and at will blow it out again with all sorts of noise -- otherwise called 'farts' -- a veritable fart fantasia..." (22)
"To release certain winds is considered almost a crime. Yet those who suppress them risk dropsy, convulsions, vertigo and frightful colics. These are too often the unhappy outcome of a sad discretion." (Salerno Health Code, 54)
"He would stop breathing through his nose and mouth, take in air from his back passage and at will blow it out again with all sorts of noise -- otherwise called 'farts' -- a veritable fart fantasia..." (22)
"To release certain winds is considered almost a crime. Yet those who suppress them risk dropsy, convulsions, vertigo and frightful colics. These are too often the unhappy outcome of a sad discretion." (Salerno Health Code, 54)
November 18, 2007
A quick look at the most famous act in the history of the Moulin Rouge, this small book is the only one I could locate about this amazing...farter.
July 25, 2008
Truly bizarre and, bizarrely, true.
January 18, 2014
one of a kind among the ranks of curious literature.
February 17, 2021
A fascinating story of a truly unique performer. Thar she blows!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews