Research Catalog

Title

The life of P.T. Barnum / written by himself, Phineas T. Barnum ; introduction by Terence Whalen.

Author

Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891

Publication

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, c2000.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xxxvii, 404 p. : ill.; 22 cm.

Summary

• "For more than fifty years, Phineas T. Barnum embodied all that was grand and fraudulent in American mass culture. Over the course of a life that spanned the nineteenth century (1810-91), he inflicted himself upon a surprisingly willing public in a variety of guises, from newspaper editor (or libeler) to traveling showman (or charlatan) and distinguished public benefactor (or shameless hypocrite)." "Barnum deliberately cultivated his ambiguous public image through a lifelong advertising campaign, shrewdly exploiting the cultural and technological capabilities of the new publishing industry. While running his numerous shows and exhibitions, Barnum managed to publish newspaper articles, exposes of fraud (not his own), self-help tracts, and a series of best-selling autobiographies, each promising to give "the true history of my many adventures."".
• "Updated editions of The Life of P.T. Barnum appeared regularly, allowing Barnum to keep up with demand and purge the narrative of details that might offend posterity. The present volume is the first modern edition of Barnum's original and outrageous autobiography, published in 1855 and unavailable for more than a century."--BOOK JACKET.

Subjects

• Biographies
• Circus owners > United States > Biography
• Barnum, P. T (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891

Genre/Form

Biographies

Note

• Originally published: New York : Redfield, 1855.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Chapter I. My Early History 12 -- First Appearance -- School Experience -- John Haight -- Breaking the Ice -- A Debt Discharged -- Living Statues -- Dive, you Vagabond! -- Speculation in Horns -- Biter Bit -- Horse and his Rider -- Crisis -- John goes to Sea -- A Naval Officer -- Pennies and Sixpennies -- Fish out of Water -- First Visit to New-York -- Adventures in the City -- Speculation in Oranges -- Guns and Torpedoes -- Funds running low -- My first Swop -- Vast Supplies -- Corporation Morals -- End of the Bargain -- Chapter II. Clerk in a Store--Anecdotes 28 -- Clerk in a Store -- An Eye to Business -- Jokers' Exchange -- My Inheritance -- Ivy Island -- Anticipations -- An Exploring Expedition -- Among the Bogs -- A Hornets' Nest -- Promised Land -- Vanished Dreams -- Razor-strops -- Diamond cut Diamond -- Drunkard's Keg -- Sense of Honor -- Dark Picture -- Credit stopped -- Tricks of Trade -- Three in a Bed -- Traps and Barricades -- Battle of the Spurs -- Wrong Horse -- Chapter III. Sunday-School--Old Meeting-House 43 -- Sunday-School -- Eccentric Clergyman -- A zealous Brother -- Pumping a Witness -- Awful Disclosures -- Suspicious Circumstances -- Trial -- Climax -- Wedding Fee -- Doctrinal Discussions -- Old Meeting-House -- Stove Reform -- Power of Imagination -- Deacon's Appeal -- Bible-Class -- One Thing Needful -- An Explosion -- Chapter IV. Anecdotes with an Episode 55 -- My Grandfather's Voyage -- A Stray Clergyman -- Beard Question -- A Quandary -- Whiskers Doomed -- Half-shaved -- Razor Overboard -- Indian File -- Unique Procession -- Joke kept up -- Christian's Death-bed -- Irishman's Dog -- Clinching the Bargain -- Trick discovered -- Mrs. O'Brien consoled -- Blue-Laws -- Stage Agent -- Dodging the Deacons -- Stretching the Legs -- Jehn's Consternation -- A Dry Season -- Miller's Trial -- Verdict -- Old Bob -- Bob in the Bogs -- Rider afoot -- A Slave for Life -- Marking the Value -- Chapter V. A Batch of Incidents 74 -- Money-making -- Lotteries -- An attractive Scheme -- No Blanks -- Small Prizes -- Predecessors in Humbug -- Cutting up Bacon -- Out of Breath -- An off Ox -- White-faced Rum -- A Pillar in the Church -- A Fish Story -- Tables turned -- Taking the Census -- Quick Work -- Hieroglyphies -- A Strange Name -- Taking an Oath -- Button Moulds -- Tin Peddler -- Trading in Whetstones -- Difference -- Materials for my Book -- Wood Chopper -- Excitement increases -- Wonderful Bean -- A Joke foreclosed -- Death of my Father -- A Trade in Bottles -- My Lottery -- Bottles and Skimmers -- Lots of Tin -- Doggerel -- Mysterious Stockings -- Curious Coincidence -- An Act of "Charity" -- Queer Symptoms -- Tit for Tat -- Trade in Russia -- Comedy of Errors -- Fun flies -- Explanation -- Filling Rum Bottles -- Old Pensioners -- Duel -- A Dead Shot -- Chapter VI. Incidents and Various Schemes 106 -- A Toe-string -- Spirit of Speculation -- On my own Hook -- Youthful Restlessness -- Successful Experiment -- Extending Business -- Swearing out the Balance -- Seeing the Elephant -- Forcing a Settlement -- Pettifogging -- Speech Spoiled -- My Maiden Plea -- A Cheap Wedding -- Disappointed Squire -- Quack Dentist -- Geese Feathers -- Consultation -- Love-Letter -- Vinegar and Honey -- Poetical Appeal -- Tender-lines -- Compromise -- Extravagant Living -- A Close Shave -- Useful Information -- Facts and Figures -- Lottery Mania -- Plot and Counterplot -- My Marriage -- Irish Peddler -- Mock Trial -- Motion to Adjourn -- A Real Lawyer -- A Seattering Court -- Judge Parsons -- House-keeping -- Religious Excitement -- Sectarian Politics -- Herald of Freedom -- Libel Suit -- In Jail -- Day of Jubilee -- Balancing Accounts -- Chapter VII. Struggling--Joice Heth--Vivalla 142 -- Removal to New-York -- Temptingt Advertisements -- Seeking Employment -- Disappointment -- Darrow and the Shirt -- Missed a Figure -- Joice Heth -- My First Interview -- Bill of Sale -- I Purchase Joice -- Contract -- Exhibition at Niblo's -- Management -- Notices of the Press -- Lawrie Todd -- Ancient Hymns -- Joice in Boston -- Maelzel -- Important Discovery -- A Ludicrous Incident -- Signor Vivalla -- My Second Show -- Washington City -- Scene in the Senate -- Anne Royall -- A Tempest of Wrath -- Paul Pry -- Proposed Speculation -- Pawning my Watch -- Challenge -- A Crotchet -- Private Interview -- Great Excitement -- Trial of Skill -- Moral -- Death of Joice -- Post-Mortem Examination -- A Statement -- Lyman's Hoax -- Newspaper Controversy -- False History -- My Object -- Chapter VIII. Travelling Circus 177 -- Our First Performance -- Incident in Church -- Old Turner -- A Disagreeable Joke -- Tar and Feathers -- Wrong Customer -- Fast Board -- A Crammed Company -- Arithmetical Puzzles -- Sorrowful Parting -- Speech in a Grove -- Serious Reflections -- Dead-head Sheriff -- Sharp Dodging -- Conspiracy Defeated -- Contracted Quarters -- A Perilous Journey -- Vivalla and the Indian -- Courage oozed out -- Egg Trick -- A Discomfited Juggler -- Yankee Munchausen -- Mysterious Boots -- A Long Nap -- Living Mummies -- My Uncle's Number -- Legs by the Bushel -- Bad Luck -- A Friend in Need -- A Hasty Wedding -- A Sudden Departure -- Advertising for a Pariner -- Curious Propositions -- A new Business -- Remnants of my Capital -- A Batch of Recipes -- A Showman again -- Recollections of my Tour -- A Mock Diamond -- In Jail again -- Chapter IX. American Museum 214 -- New Enterprises -- Foot of the Ladder -- Strong Resolutions -- American Museum -- A Bold Attempt -- An Interview -- Propositions -- Ivy Island again -- A Repulse -- Tactics -- Shots take Effect -- Stratagem Foiled -- Victory -- Neck or Nothing -- Museum Improvements -- Humbug and Reality -- Niagara in the Museum -- Taxed for a Cataract -- Falls in Full Flow -- Caught by an Editor -- Captain Cook Club -- My Laurels in Danger -- Hoaxer Hoaxed -- Fejee Mermaid -- Puzzle for Naturalists -- Professor Griffin -- Ways and Means -- An Ingenious Work -- Preliminaries -- Siebold's Explanation -- Grand Announcement -- Old Dutchman -- A Sight of the "Mare-Maid" -- Mermaid and Cigar -- Professor Nonplussed -- Striking the Flag -- Receipts in Contrast -- Profitable Opposition -- Gen. Tom Thumb -- A Frank Confession -- Chapter X. European Tour--Tom Thumb 246 -- Embarkation for England -- Farewell Thoughts -- Tobacco Trick -- Courtesy for a Fee -- A Yankee Guide -- Gloomy Prospects -- Gleam of Sunshine -- Value of Dwarfs -- London Manager -- Nobility Excluded -- Mr. Everett -- Visit at Rothschild's -- Golden Showers -- Lessons in Etiquette -- Tom Thumb before the Queen -- Backing Out -- Tom and the Poodle -- Prince of Wales -- Royalty and Yankee Doodle -- Fashionable Popularity -- Queen Dowager -- Iron Duke and Bonaparte -- Emperor Nicholas -- Review at Windsor -- Louis Philippe -- Royal Industry -- Field of Waterloo -- Deceased Military Friends -- An unexpected Smash -- Custom of the Country -- A Soaker -- Barber-ous Proceedings -- Brummagem Relies -- Worth makes the Man -- Golden Calves -- A Day with Albert Smith -- Who is Shakspeare? -- Guy of Warwick -- A Flock of Showmen -- A Great Day's Work -- Castle-hunting -- Yankee Curiosity -- A Lucky Pile -- An American Prince -- Suspicious Sausages -- Aneedote of Franklin -- Electric Glory -- Distinguished Americans -- General at Home -- Twenty-five Cents' Worth -- Tour in the United States -- General in Cuba -- Raising Turkeys -- Chapter XI. Jenny Lind Enterprise 296 -- An Agent to Europe -- Terms of Engagement -- Misrepresentations -- Contract -- A Surprise -- Agreement ratified --y A Cheap Picture -- Preparing the Way -- First Meeting with Jenny -- Landing -- Water versus Wine -- A new Proposition -- Jenny's Benevolence -- First Concert -- Enthusiastic Reception -- Petty Annoyances -- Management -- Press -- Receipts -- An Affecting Incident -- A Ruse -- Power of Imagination -- President Fillmore -- Messrs. Clay, Cass, Webster, and Benton -- Washington's Grave -- Shaking Hands -- Extempore Waiter -- Christmas Tree -- Solemn Moments -- Jenny in Havana -- A Triumph -- Recreation -- Vivalla and his Dog -- Prodigy -- Up the Mississippi -- Mystified Barber -- Hermitage -- April Fool -- Another Ruse -- Humbugged after all -- Useless Revolvers -- Engagement closed -- Jenny's Marriage -- Charity Concerts -- Price of Tickets -- Total Receipts of Concerts -- Jenny Lind's Receipts -- Chapter XII. "Side Shows"--Buffalo Hunt, Etc. 344 -- Moving Shakspeare's House -- Swiss Bell Ringers -- Various Enterprises -- Philadelphia Museum -- Travelling Menagerie -- Woolly Horse -- Fremont's Nondescript -- His Last Kick -- Herd of Buffaloes -- A Free Exhibition -- Buffalo Hunt -- Pleased with Humbug -- Circumstances alter Cases -- Monkey and Gander Skins -- Chapter XIII. Temperance and Agriculture 359 -- My Temperance Movements -- An Inextricable Dilemma -- My Conversion -- Self-delusion -- Maine Law -- Temperance Lectures -- A Question answered -- Cold Victuals -- A Man without Friends -- Gratifying Incident -- Temperance Tract -- Agriculture -- Small Potatoes -- Grafts and Suckers -- Indigestible Food -- Importance of Agriculture -- Labor and Taste.

ISBN

0252069021 (paper : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^^99462094^

OCLC

• 43246088
• SCSB-11352251

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library