Marc Hartzman Livres

This book offers a captivating exploration of the American sideshow and its remarkable performers, revealing the truth behind what is real, fake, and bizarre. While figures like Tom Thumb and the Elephant Man are well-known, the lives of lesser-known stars such as Eli Bowen, Myrtle Corbin, and Prince Randian are also examined. Covering the period from 1840 to 1950, it chronicles the extraordinary lives of these performers, highlighting their resilience and triumph over their physical differences. The narrative discusses the rise and decline of traditional sideshows and their evolution into today’s self-made freaks. As modern medicine advances, many physical abnormalities are being treated or prevented, leading to a paradox where technology also enables body modifications, such as tongue forking or horn implantation. The book features contemporary performers like giants, fire-eaters, and sword swallowers, celebrating their unique talents through intimate biographies and stunning photographs. With around 200 performers showcased, it provides a comprehensive and astonishing view of the history of the American sideshow, emphasizing both the spectacle and the humanity of its stars.

Have you ever visited a yard sale and marveled at the bizarre treasures on display? Picture a homemade deer-poop paperweight for ten dollars, a lonely left boot, or a belt with a glass eye in its buckle. Such fantastic oddities exist and have been sold on eBay, where a collection of these items serves as a hilarious "museum" of priceless artifacts. With thirty million registered users, eBay has become the most popular shopping website, drawing everyone from grandmothers to teenagers eager to buy and sell just about anything. While searching for rare deals on hard-to-find gifts, buyers often encounter the unusual and unexpected. The author has curated one hundred quirky items, photographing them as if they were precious jewels. Among these are a trucker's prayer plaque, a real frog coin purse poised to leap off the page, and a strand of Abraham Lincoln's hair presented as a historical gem. Each image is accompanied by the seller's original sales pitch and amusing email exchanges about the objects' improbable uses. This pocket-sized catalog of curiosities makes for a delightful novelty gift for any eBay enthusiast in your family.