CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 4 reviews)
The (More or Less) True History of the Elephant Man Unlike the (brilliant) play and movie of the same name, Frederick Drimmer's "fictional biography" of Joseph Merrick, THE ELEPHANT MAN, aims to tell the subject's true life story, based on accounts of those who knew him. I first read THE ELEPHANT MAN as a teenager in high school. Revisiting the book now as an adult, I find there is little I can add to the apt assessment of the reviewer quoted here on Amazon.com. I'll only repeat that Drimmer, an authority on so-called human oddities and a gifted writer, tells Merrick's sad yet inspiring story tastefully and with drama and interest in every chapter. Merrick's humanity and that of his doctor, Frederick Treves, and his other friends shines through brightly, yet the evils present in British Victorian society are not underplayed. Consequently, THE ELEPHANT MAN reads like both a biography and an entertaining work of fiction, suitable for both young and older adults. October 27, 2005
Touching reading I was very touched by the story of the Elephant man, who was very deformed and endured many hardships in his childhood and young adult life because of his appearance. His life becomes bearable though in his end years thanks to the kindness of Dr. Fredrick Treves and many other people. If you haven't heard of or read about the Elephant man yet, I recommend this book, Joseph Merrick's story (the Elephant man) is something you won't forget. The terrors he went through and then how incredibly grateful he was for the simplest pleasures after being rescued by Dr. Treves make me see life through new eyes: it is hard to take things for granted. The book also includes photographs of Joseph. October 25, 2002
WHAT I THINK ABOUT THE BOOK THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ IT IS A TRUE STORY ABOUT A MAN JOSEPH CAREY MERRICK WHO SUFFERED A DISEASE PROTIO-SYNDROM WHICH DISFIGURED HIM. ITS ABOUT HOW HE LIVED AND HOW HE SPENT HIS TIME WITH HIS DOCTOR. THE WHOLE BOOK IS GREAT I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING AND TOUCHING. BUT IN ALL I WOULD RECOMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE. -RANDY February 26, 2001
Reveals The Lies Of The Movie The movie, which I saw when I was 7 was a lie. Tom Norman, his manager in the freak show treated him with great respect and was a portaryed as a monster. He was never stolen from the London Hospital and was not beaten. The movie focused on the bad of his life but not the good. Sir Fredrick Treves (forgiven an misspelling,s, I am only 12) the sugeon that helped him was a great man and help John and brought out the good that most overlooked because of his appearance. He is man i would love to personally meet and this book helped me realize that he was a smart man, a caring man, a loving man....This book would help anyone interested in this subject with it's photos and insight. March 22, 2000