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.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
For many years Joseph Merrick, terribly deformed due to a genetic disorde r, earned his living by being exhibited as a curiosity in traveling freak shows and would be know n to generations as "The Elephant Man", the source of a stage play, a film, and a number of books and articles, both scientific and popular. Merrick was a figure of tragedy and a testament to the power of the human spirit. Ashley Montagu defines and solves the mystery surround Joseph Merrick's p ersonal transformation from a frightened, withdrawn, inarticulate creation into that of a cordia l, conversant, gentle, and inspiring human being. The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity carries a special bonus in the form of an Ashley Montagu bibliography featuring his editorial work as we ll as his primary writings. -- Midwest Book Review
About the Author
ASHLEY MONTAGU, internationally renowned anthropologist and social biologist, has spent a lifetime examining and exposing some of the most widely held myths concerning humankind. Born 28 June, 1905 in London, he came to the United States in 1927 to begin graduate studies at Columbia University in New York. He taught anatomy and anthropology at New York University in the 1930s, received a Ph.D in anthropology in 1937 at Columbia, and was professor of anthropology and chairman of the Department of Anthropology at Rutgers University from 1949 to 1955. He also taught at Harvard, Princeton and the University of California at Santa Barbara. In a prolific book-writing career that has spanned six decades, Montagu has ventured into the controversial areas of race, child-rearing and relations between the sexes. Against a solid background of scientific evidence, he has shown the theory of racial superiority to be fallacious, has dismantled the notion that man is naturally superior to woman, and has been emphatic about the tremendous importance of proper child-rearing, socially, biologically and psychologically. The Natural Superiority of Women (1953), The Elephant Man (1971), Touching (1987), Man's Most Dangerous Myth: The Fallacy of Race (1971), and The Human Connection (1979) are among his best-known books. Others include On Being Human (1950), Life Before Birth (1964), Immortality, Religion and Morals (1971), The Nature of Human Aggression (1976), and The American Way of Life (1967). Dr. Montagu was the principal officer responsible for drawing up the UNESCO Statement on Race, the director of the Department of Child Growth and Development at New York University, the director of the New Jersey Commission for Physical Health and Development, and one of the scientists who drew up the bill for the formation of the National Science Foundation. Current Biography points out: "During the 1950s Montagu was perhaps the best-known anthropologist and one of the most popular university professors in the United States."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Hero, Joseph,
This review is from: The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity (Hardcover)
24 years ago I first encountered Joseph Merrick in a book of freaks. I was so touched I sought books about him. This one was all my library offered. I checked it out so much they gave it to me! To this day this book is the thing I would grab in a house fire. I couldn't begin to tell you of the depth of beauty of Joseph's soul or of the impact he's made in my life. I was thrilled when they started making movies about him and new books came out. If there was a Joseph Merrick fan club, I would definately be president. When I die and see Joseph in heaven, I'll be glad. I wish all people could be a precious as he.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Humanity Above Deformity,
By
This review is from: The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity (Hardcover)
Anthropologist Ashley Montagu's moving study of the now famous Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick. Based on the writings of Dr. Frederick Treves and the casts and photos of Mr. Merrick, Montagu tells the sad story of a boy who lived a horrible life due to his terrible dieases which grew progressively worse as he aged. Merrick frightened off practically everyone he came in contact with, while eventually settling in as a sideshow freak at traveling carnivals. Eventually being so disfigured and horrible, the bobbies would not even allow the show to go on. Dr. Treves, who discovers Merrick takes him in to his hospital to stay for the rest of his life which was a turning point, as now he would be looked on as a human, and not as a monster. More story than analysis of Merrick's disfigurment, however, leads one to realize the care that Montagu has placed in this tale. This book has also inspired a play, as well as David Lynch's film 'The Elephant Man' which I believe is a good adaptation. The movie puts a moral spin asking whether John Merrick's position as a carnival freak has not changed being in a hospital. That is, is Dr. Treves a carnival barker for the public media rather than for a small crowd paying to watch the traveling band of human curiosities. Montague did not comment on this point of view for he kept Merrick's dignity in tact. Also included are the original writings of Dr. Treve's as well as a few other papers on the Elephant Man at the time of his death.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful, touching and amazing story.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity (Hardcover)
When I was about eiight years old, I saw the the film "The Elephant Man" for the first time. I wondered if Joseph (called John) Merrick would look anything like Rocky Dennis had in the film "Mask," starring Eric Stoltz. He didn't look like Rocky Dennis. He looked worse. Much worse. I sat there with my jaw dropped- and to think, I was only seeing actor John Hurt under an incredibly real make-up job done by make-up artist Christopher Tucker! When I was older, I saw the film again, and learned this time that during the filming of the movie, actor John Hurt's scenes could only be shot on alternate days because once he was in complete make-up (with its various foam rubber appliances, etc.), the whole thing was so heavy that he was unable to eat or even lie down. American Movie Classics spokesman Bob Dorian pointed out that this could give all of us an idea of the terible suffering the real John Merrick had to endure. Well, I had to read the book! In my opinion, it is quite simply an incredible story! John Merrick lived in England during the last years of the Victorian Era (late 1800's) Though he was deformed at birth, the true depth of his rare and mysterious disorder (Neuro-fibro-meiosis) did not become evident until he got older. After the death of his mother, his father married their land-lady. Subjected to unbearrable taunting and teasing by his stepmother's children, and fearing he would be in trouble after losing use of his right hand, Merrick fled his home and was eventually forced to do hard labor in factories to earn a living. Somehow, he was eventually convinced to "sell himself" by appearing as an act in various carnival side shows. Under the control of his "master", a cruel and unbearrable man who beat and abused him severely, there seemed to be no way out for Merrick- until he came across Dr. Fredrick Treves. On a chance encounter, (or maybe it wasn't) Treves discovered Merrick and attepted to rescue him, though it would be several years and a marvelous turn of events before Merrick's life would change...... Author Ashley Montagu pays much detail to the various horific events that plague Merrick's life and probes the question of how he could've remained such a loving and gentle person in spite of everything. In response to this I will simply say that this is a rather spiritual story, which is something I enjoyed very much. I was also intrigued by the fact that Merrick lived at a time when there was considered to be "no hope" for individuals in situations such as his- which was rather unusual, regardless of the time period.
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