The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb

For anyone who loves the historical novels of Sara Gruen Geraldine Brooks and E. L. Doctorow a barnstorming tale of an irrepressible brawling bawdy era and the remarkable woman who had the courage to match the unique spirit of Americas Gilded Age.She was only two feet eight inches tall but more than a century later her legend reaches out to us. As a child Mercy Lavinia Vinnie Warren Bump was encouraged to live a life hidden away from the public. Instead she reached out to the immortal impresario P. T. Barnum married the tiny superstar General Tom Thumb in the wedding of the century and became the worlds most unexpected celebrity. Vinnies wedding captivated the nation preempted coverage of the Civil War and even ushered her into the White House. But her fame also endangered the person she prized most: her similarly sized sister Minnie a gentle soul unable to escape the glare of Vinnies spotlight. A barnstorming novel of the Gilded Age The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb is the irresistible epic of a heroine who conquered the country with a heart as big as her dreamsand whose story will surely win over yours.Look for special features inside.Join the Circle for author chats and more.BONUS: This edition contains a timeline an interview with Melanie Benjamin and an excerpt from Melanie Benjamin''sAlice I Have Been.