The Life of P.T. Barnum (Cosimo Classics Biography)

Originally published in the United States in 1855 P.T. Barnum recounts the true history of his adventures and the many enterprises in which he had engaged. A fascinating and-to say the least-colorful man Barnum regales us with a storied chronicle of his checkered career where he had been everything from farmers boy to small town merchant to bank president and ultimately a master showman. He had frequented jails and palaces known poverty and wealth traveled over a large portion of two continents and had seen all varieties of people and characters. This light-hearted intriguing history will endeavor the reader to laugh at the antics of this inimitable showman who interestingly enough never coined the phrase Theres a sucker born every minute. PHINEAS TAYLOR (P.T.) BARNUM (1810-1891) is one of the most peculiarly famous personalities in American history. A consummate showman and entrepreneur Barnum was famous for bringing both high and low culture to American audiences. From the melodious opera singer Jenny Lind to the bizarre hoax of the Feejee Mermaid from the clever and quite diminutive Tom Thumb to Jumbo the Elephant Barnums oddities spectacles galas extravaganzas and events tickled the fancies of Americans of all ages.