The lives and loves of Daisy and Violet Hilton follows the poignant life story of twin sisters who were literally joined at the hip, set against the tumultuous backdrop of America during the first half of the 20th century. Daisy and Violet and an unforgettable cast of show-business characters come alive on the pages of this carefully researched and sensitively written biography.
Reviews
… biography.
Reviews
“Jensen’s book is a testament to the fickleness of the entertainment world.”
-Tampa Bay Tribune
“It is an affecting story, gently and honestly told without frills, without sensation. In Jensen’s hands, the twins are always human, individuals, never freaks joined at the hips as the world saw them after their birth in 1908. . . Here, their story is pure.”
-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
more
I had heard of the Hilton sisters but I had no idea who they were or of their tragic lives.
Very interesting book. A sad story but the twins didn’t let life get them down!
Interesting to read about these ladies… but sad.
Enjoyed it immensely !! So enjoy biography/nonfiction
Fascinating true tale of very complicated lives.
Interesting story…never heard of these girls
OK, but sketchy on the personalities.
The author provides plenty of detail in certain aspects of their lives. I would have liked to read about what happened to the people who exploited the twins after the lawsuit.
I had never heard of these conjoined twins. The writier took you into a world that nor many see. The sad reality of their youngest lives was tragic. The seedy world behind the circus was also tragic. The book was informative, but didn’t achieve the active participation of the reader that I look for.
I saw the twins when I was a child and they worked at Park N Shop in Charlotte, NC. Then I didn’t know their backstory. They were subdued and didn’t like to be stared at, of course. I didn’t know how they had been on top of the entertainment world and then back to an almost poverty stricken life. I have always had an interest in them and old Hollywood. I also own the CD in which they spoke and acted out parts of their lives (not good acting on the part of the blond.) This book helps you see them as individuals with admirable traits instead of “freaks” as they were advertised.
Very interesting
This is without a doubt the oddest story I have ever read, since it is true. These women lived an absolutely tragic life, but as they said, if they hadn’t been exhibited as “freaks” they would have ended up in an insane asylum or institution of some kind.
I had never heard of these conjoined twins before, but many decades ago they were beautiful, world-famous, made tons of money, danced in their act with a newbie named Bob Hope, were good friends with Harry Houdini, and had boyfriends and lovers galore. There were many photographs throughout the book; they were indeed movie-star pretty. Each was married at one point or another, and one of them had a baby (that had to be given up for adoption). They played many musical instruments, sang, told jokes, and danced. But what a heartbreaking story! Their birth mother refused to even touch them. Their abusive adoptive mother only took them on because she saw dollar signs and exploited them from birth. Virtually enslaved, as adults they were able to finally sue for their freedom and a portion of what they had earned, but others were only too willing to take advantage of the naive girls. Discrimination faced them at every turn. They died penniless and forgotten.
For non-fiction it read like fiction! Well researched but highly engaging.
Enjoyed it, just thought it was a little too long. Dragged on it some areas. Never had heard of them before
OK in beginning. Gets redundant towards the end.
I found this book very haunting in the fact that people during that period of time thought that physical deformities were something to be hidden and not to be talked about. The girls were very strong individuals in their on right. In this day and time, they would be commended. I found the book very interesting, informative, and inspirational.