BONUS: This edition contains a timeline, an interview with Melanie Benjamin, and an excerpt from Melanie Benjamin’s Alice I Have Been.
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 America’s Gilded Age.
She was … spirit of America’s 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 world’s most unexpected celebrity. Vinnie’s 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 Vinnie’s 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 dreams — and whose story will surely win over yours.
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This work of historic fiction is well thought out, compassionate, and well-researched. Mrs. Tom Thumb tells of the life of an amazing woman who lived through a tumultuous time with grace, self-assurance, conviction, and stage presence. I recommend Ms. Benjamin’s books if you enjoy a taste of history headed by strong lead female characters.
3.5 Stars
Mercy Lavinia “Vinnie” Bump was “a perfectly proportioned woman in miniature,” reaching a height of 32 inches by adulthood (the quote is probably not exact since I listened to the audiobook). As a teenager, she realized that she could live a small life in her small town, becoming an old spinster and being forgotten shortly after her …
What a life she lived!
One of my favs!
How is it possible that I’ve never recommended a Melanie Benjamin book on BookBub before? If so, might as well start with my personal favorite. A very big story about a very small woman, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb dives deep into the intriguing life of a 2-foot-8-inch superstar whose decision to go into business with P.T. Barnum would …
I loved the insight into the world via this tiny woman. Good historic novel.
Very unusual book. I felt very sorry for Vinnie as she was lonely when surrounded by scores of people and never really found the love she was looking for.
It’s been a while since I started this book. I did not finish. I’m forgetting some of the details but I do remember that the main character was so unpleasant I just had no desire to finish. It was like a case study in narcissism or at the very least complete self-absorption. I didn’t want to learn more about her because I didn’t care about her.
Interesting look back to circus history.
Was expecting more of an aha moment, became predictable.
This book opened and my eyes to a world that was unknown to me. The circus in its original form was more than just an animal show- the human performers and attractions were amazing and surreal. The Tom Thumb story -especially his personal life and his wife were so fascinating, yet so sad. The physical aspect of their small stature in the world is …
This story was very informative about the time period and the life of circus entertainers. I think it painted a very realistic picture of the fascination that people have for the unusual, and the hard life of those who are unusual!
I loved this book! Great characters and interesting period in history.
This was a really good book. I had always thought of Tom Thump as fictional. I learned a lot about the history of the circus and early century entertainment. I loved it!
So much more than I anticipated. It was hard to put down!
The small people lead sad and exploited lives. The pity was that society did not offer any alternative. The fire was so nerve racking. All of the family and character are so real and so sad.
The author took a subject I hadn’t previously even thought about and made it, and Lavinia Warren, relatable and compelling in a 19th-century manner, avoiding the pitfalls of applying 21st-century psychology to other eras. I highly recommend this book!
Enjoyed this very much. The main character is a person I knew existed but knew nothing about. Very goo historical novel. I would read other books by this author.