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    The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: A Novel
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    The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: A Novel
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    The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: A Novel
    Audiobook15 hours

    The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: A Novel

    Written by Melanie Benjamin

    Narrated by Kim Mai Guest

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In her national bestseller Alice I Have Been, Melanie Benjamin imagined the life of the woman who inspired Alice in Wonderland. Now, in this jubilant new novel, Benjamin shines a dazzling spotlight on another fascinating female figure whose story has never fully been told: a woman who became a nineteenth century icon and inspiration-and whose most daunting limitation became her greatest strength.

    "Never would I allow my size to define me. Instead, I would define it."

    She was only two-foot eight-inches tall, but her legend reaches out to us more than a century later. As a child, Mercy Lavinia "Vinnie" 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 transformed into the world's most unexpected celebrity.

    Here, in Vinnie's singular and spirited voice, is her amazing adventure-from a showboat "freak" revue where she endured jeering mobs to her fateful meeting with the two men who would change her life: P. T. Barnum and Charles Stratton, AKA Tom Thumb. Their wedding would captivate the nation, preempt coverage of the Civil War, and usher them into the White House and the company of presidents and queens. But Vinnie's fame would also endanger 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, and of a woman's public triumphs and personal tragedies, 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJul 26, 2011
    ISBN9780307713490
    Unavailable
    The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: A Novel

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    Reviews for The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb

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    • 2/5
      Interesting. It's a fictionalized account of real people. For the most part I was engaged, but Vinnie is very dramatic and ego-centric which gets annoying. It drags on and reiterates too often -- in this sense, a written version of the book may go better than audio, since one's eyes could skim such passages easier than ears can.
    • 4/5
      A great read--a subject you didn't know you would even be interested in!
    • 3/5
      Mrs. Tom Thumb is brought to life in this historical fiction tale. Melanie Benjamin brings these people to life in her books that you can't help but fall in love with them and feel like you are there with them experiencing what they are. She has become one of my favorite authors.
    • 3/5
      A perfectly good fictional treatment of the life of Lavinia Warren Stratton, the wife of Charles Stratton (aka General Tom Thumb). Lagged a bit in the middle and probably isn't a book I'll get the urge to read again, but it was a fine middle-of-the-road read.
    • 5/5
      This is an absolutely wonderful story and it is well written. The research that went into writing this tale is nothing short of amazing. Ms. Benjamin is an author well worth reading and I applaud her talent. I never even knew Tom Thumb had a wife, so when I saw this book for sale I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed and I highly recommend this book to all who are fans of historical fiction.
    • 3/5
      Synopsis: Lavinia Warren was born with a rare type of dwarfism where her body is in proportion and yet is unnaturally tiny - Lavinia's body stopped growing when she was only a few years old. However, her mind did not. This is the story of her life as she tries to discover her place in the world as a little person. My Opinion: Some parts were long winded however it was a very interesting story and it was interesting to learn a little bit from behind the scenes of a circus.
    • 3/5
      I find the circus fascinating so I was really hoping this book would be one of my new favorites. It just didn't make it there! There was a lot of repetition throughout the book which bogged it down and made it boring. I did enjoy Vinnie's relationship with Minnie and with Barnum. In my opinion those were the best parts of the book. I believe the book could have used a massive dose of editing. The story could have been condensed down into half of its size and actually been better. I would like to read more about Vinnie so I appreciated the author giving a list of books to look into. Benjamin has much potential and most likely I would read her again.
    • 3/5
      At first I thought that this was going to be such a great book. The first 100 or so pages were, however, then it became somewhat boring to me and I kept thinking......when is this going to be over. It picks up again in my opinion...but then falls back down towards the end. I was able to finish it, but I could have spent my time reading something a bit more entertaining.
    • 3/5
      This fictional biography has piqued my interest enough to want to know more about the Vinnie Bump Stratton.
    • 5/5
      I requested this book on the strength of Ms. Benjamin"s name alone. I loved the Alice book and was hoping to find another wonderful experience this time also. However, I approached this book cautiously afraid that luck wouldn't strike twice. I shouldn't have worried, because this is a five star book. Ms Benjamin is such a skilled writer that even though I wasn't looking forward to the subject she sucked me into the story. I became attached to all the characters and laughed and cried along with them as they journeyed through life. I would now buy any book by this author with no qualms at all and that is saying a lot. Recommended.
    • 3/5
      By its very nature this was a difficult book to read. In many ways it was clever and entertaining. Lavinia Warren Bump (Mrs. Tom Thumb) had many exciting adventures as she traveled all over the world in contract with P.T. Barnum. In the early days, travel was treacherous. The troupe met with bad road conditions, wild animals ,thieves and Indians. Accomodations were primitive. Ms. Bump did not care to be pawed at and her size commented on but she realized that ultimately, this way of life enabled her to live like a queen, and to hobknob with the wealthy. So, while reading of the General and Mrs. Tom Thumb's travel to exotic places and meeting other notable people of the day made the book interesting, there are other factors that made me uncomfortable. Lavinia Bump speaks frankly throughout the book and in many ways has the conventional prejudices of that day and time. She often learns to broaden her views, redeeming herself. Some of her experiences would have been difficult for anyone, but particularly for her because of her size. While it was not always an easy read, it was always interesting. Although, as with many books, I find that it could have used substantial editing about mid-way, where it seemed too long. Much of the story becomes redundant, particularly during her travels with her husband, General Tom Thumb. For the most part, the book is able to give the reader a unique view of the world, from a different time, and a different standpoint in the world, the world of a little person, who lived a very big life.
    • 5/5
      Fun and interesting to read. Lavinia Warren had a very full, happy life. P.T. Barnum was a good and classy man - a gentleman who promised Lavinia's parents he would take good care of their sheltered, tiny daughter and he lived up to his word completely. Tom Thumb was less defined but he too was a good and well grounded man. I does my heart good to know the "Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb" were not the victims of a freak show but, instead respected, adored and talented entertainers. Nice.
    • 3/5
      I had heard good things about this author and in fact have her other book Alice I Have Been. It seemed a no-brainer that I would really like it. However, it wasn't what I expected.It is an interesting story, don't get me wrong. The subject of the novel is intriguing and Benjamin gives as authentic a voice as she can. It's just that I didn't particularly care for her. Perhaps this is the author's skill, but it just seemed that the narrator, Mercy Lavinia “Vinnie” Bump (Mrs. Tom Thumb) wants us to know her story, but keeps the reader at a distance. It's just a feeling I got. Also for some reason, I just couldn't connect with Lavinia. But that's just me. This is still a very interesting book to read if one is interested in the era and especially with the history of the circus, especially Barnum's version of it.
    • 5/5
      Melanie Benjamin’s The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb completes my reading of the three P.T. Barnum/American Museum novels published between June 2010 and August 2011. Mrs. Tom Thumb (July 2011), while being the least focused of the three on day-to-day life in Barnum’s American Museum, is, in many ways, the most intriguing of the three because of its focus on two of Barnum’s real life main attractions: Mr. and Mrs. General Tom Thumb. For the record, the other two Barnum novels are: The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson (June 2010) and Stacy Carlson’s Among the Wonderful (August 2011).When she was born in 1841, no one expected that Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump would mature into a world famous young woman who would never reach three feet in height – nor that her younger sister was destined to be even smaller than Vinnie. But, as much as the Bump sisters resembled each other physically, they could not have been any more temperamentally different. Vinnie demanded to go to school with her everyone else; her sister was content to stay home with her mother. Vinnie dreamed of seeing the world; her sister could barely imagine a world other than the one she knew within the confines of the Bump family farm.Told in her own words, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb, is a chronology of the life of one of the bravest young women of her day. Lavinia Warren, as she came to be known under P.T. Barnum’s guidance, fought the odds associated with her size and with her gender to become one of the biggest celebrities of the century. Hers was a life of the highest triumph and the lowest personal grief imaginable, but what a life it was.As portrayed in the novel, General Tom Thumb, dubbed so by Barnum, is a rather child-like man barely taller than his 32-inch wife who learns to mimic the ways of those around him. Because Barnum put him in show business when he was only five years old, and he had to pretend to be a young adult even then, Charles Stratton never had a childhood. He learned his ways from Barnum and others with whom he worked and toured – even to mimicking Barnum’s physical mannerisms. Whether or not Lavinia ever learned to love the little man is open to speculation. What is not subject to question is that she saw marriage to Stratton as the key to the bank vault – and she was right. The wedding of Charles Stratton to Lavinia Warren has, in fact, been called the nineteenth century’s equivalent of Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles. It certainly made the pair wealthy, even by modern standards.The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb is quite a tale, and Melanie Benjamin tells it well. Readers cannot help but be intrigued by the unique relationships between Lavinia Warren and the two most important men in her life, General Tom Thumb and the boldest American “humbugger” of all time, Mr. P.T. Barnum.I highly recommend all three of the Barnum novels but, if you only have time for one of them, this is probably your best choice.Rated at: 5.0
    • 5/5
      What an enchanting read! My first foray into historical fiction about circus life was "Water for Elephants", and this was approximately 100 times better! It certainly helped that this novel was based on a real person, and Lavinia Bump was an absolutely fascinating character, equal parts ladylike and independent, compassionate and ruthless. I LOVE historical novels about obscure historical figures, and I am now dying to read Melanie Benjamin's "Alice I Have Been". I highly recommend this book!
    • 4/5
      Very interesting book that I picked up rather randomly when I needed a book for the car. I knew absolutely nothing about Lavinnia Ward or Tom Thumb (I thought he was a nursery rhyme character or something). While a lot of it was a novelization, it was still very interesting to see how they lived and all of the fascinating people they met.
    • 4/5
      Born a dwarf in the early 1800s, Lavinia Bump was part of a loving family and community. She constantly chafed against the limitations she had not only as a dwarf, but as a woman. Women were not typically educated in the 19th century, but Lavinia not only learned, but was a teacher for a period of time. Yearning to move beyond her restrictive environment, she took a job as an entertainer on a riverboat just prior to the Civil War. The man who "recruited" her was believed to be a family relative, but ultimately she became a member of a "freak" show and was all but sold into prostitution by her "cousin". She didn't let her narrow escape from the riverboat keep her from moving on. Eventually, she ended up as part of P.T. Barnum's show and circus. She met Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton), one of the best known and most-beloved performers in Barnum's show and married him. Lavinia and Charles had one of the most famous marriages of it's time, but it wasn't a love match. Together, they became one of Barnum's most popular performers. They traveled the world, had tea with the Queen of England and lived as part of high society in New York. P. T. Barnum was Lavinia's best friends and confidantes. He, alone, of everyone she knew thought the way she did and between the two of them the fame and fortune of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb continued to grow, as did P.T. Barnum's.Lavinia is a very strong character. She dearly loved her family, especially her younger sister, Minnie, who eventually became part of the troupe. She was very ambitious, though, and her career and fame was always first and foremost in her mind and in the decisions she made.One of the most interesting features of this novel for me was the historical context. Benjamin did exhaustive research not only about Lavinia but also of the world in which she lived. I learned a lot about the Gilded Age, circus performing, and the life of a "small person" during a time when people paid to see "freaks" and were intolerant of anyone who is different.This is a well-written book, full of history, romance, and performance.
    • 4/5
      **possible spoilers**Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump was born to a farmer and his wife in Middleborough, Massachusetts. She was born a normal sized baby, but "Vinnie" and one of her siblings, affectionately called Minnie by the family, were what was known as proportionate dwarfs - Vinnie was under three feet tall and Minnie was even smaller. Determined not to let her size define her, she left a respectable job as a schoolteacher in Middleborough to travel on a Mississippi showboat and later worked with P.T. Barnum.It was hard for me to get into the story at first. I had a tough time because Vinnie was constantly saying that she didn't like how people only saw her size, when that was at least in part my interest in reading her story in the first place. Though a fictional story, Vinnie's voice is strong and thoroughly pragmatic. I think it's difficult to write convincing fiction from a real person's point of view, because readers can always question an author's point of view. And I did. I questioned whether Vinnie was so very pragmatic - nearly every relationship she has, except that with Minnie is practical. Vinnie wasn't always entirely likeable. I didn't like, for instance, how she became disgusted with people who only saw her size rather than her, all the while behaving in a similar way towards her husband, Charles Stratton ("General Tom Thumb") and Minnie. I read her as feeling a bit superior and became frustrated with the way she'd blame herself for their choices. The tone of the book was a bit too melancholy for my taste.
    • 4/5
      A fictionalized account of a singular life.
    • 4/5
      Author Melanie Benjamin immersed herself in autobiographies of Lavinia Warren Bump Scratton and P.T. Barnum, and created a fictional biography based on lots of truth and fact.Lavinia was born normal-sized, but quit growing (or drastically slowed her growth) around one-year of age, and at her full height she stood only 32 inches high. She may have been small in stature, but she was not small in personality. Never content to remain at home and lead a quiet, simple life, Lavinia always dreamed of seeing the world. And thanks to showman P.T. Barnum, that's exactly what she does over her roller-coaster career of ups and downs.During her years with Barnum, a friendship builds, and sometimes it is for him that does things of which she may not agree with or be proud. Eventually she marries General Tom Thumb (aka Charles Stratton), taking on what becomes her most famous role as "Mrs. Tom Thumb".Her husband Charles Stratton was for me perhaps the most real and believable character in the book, although at times quite unlikable given his "weak" personality. Raised by Barnum from childhood, he was molded into a character that he himself began to believe, never quite recognizing he didn't fit into society and was always something of a farce.P.T. Barnum is always a showman, and always looking for a way to turn something into a headline, even if it means exploiting friends. However there is a genuine friendship between him and both Lavinia and Charles.Lavinia's little sister (and when I say "little", I mean both in age and height. Minnie was only 27 inches tall) seems weak and simple and perpetually frightened through most of the book. It isn't until later that you begin to question whether perhaps she was actually the strongest of them all.Well-written and engaging, this book was able to hold me to the end. However there was something about it that bugged me. I've tried to figure it out, and the only word that continually comes to mind is "pretentious" in regards to Lavinia. But despite this being a little off-putting for me, I still enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and a "novel" novel!
    • 4/5
      I really liked this book . It did take me a while to get into it but after Lavinia leaves home I could not put it down. It is very well written and unpredictable.The only thing that bugged me was the overuse of the word HUMBUG.
    • 4/5
      The story is a novel interpretation of the autobiography of Lavinia Bump, "Vinnie", aka Mrs. Tom Thumb. The book chronicles her amazing life, from childhood until late adulthood. While loosely based upon the real life events, the interpretation is still fiction. The story is an amazing one and you cannot help but really love Lavinia in the story as she begins her journey. The story and characters are beautiful. Lavinia has a wonderful outlook on life and has a strong personality. She often surprises others by her ability to take care of herself. There are parts of her personality that I did not like as well. She does some things in the book that I found to be disappointing in her character, but also probably true to life. Overall a moving and beautiful story. Well worth the read. I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator does a wonderful job of portraying the character. Her voice is perfect for the part.
    • 5/5
      This is a fictionalized memoir of Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump, who was known to her friends and family as “Vinnie” but known to the rest of the world as Mrs. Tom Thumb. A terrific historical novel, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB takes the reader from Vinnie’s childhood, through her career, and beyond. Born a normal size baby, Vinnie’s parents didn’t realize until she was almost two years old that she wasn’t growing like their other children had. Like her sister Minnie, born 8 years later, she was perfectly healthy except for her size. With an overprotective mother and a distant father, the sisters seemed destined for a lonely, sheltered life. Vinnie, however, decided early on that “never would I allow my size to define me. Instead, I would define it.” This determination led her to P.T. Barnum, Charles Stratton, and the world stage. Traveling to Europe, dining with royalty, attending parties with the Astors and Vanderbilts, all became commonplace for Lavinia and Charles. What a grand life! Or was it? Things aren’t always what they seem, especially in show business.This engaging novel will enlighten and entertain a great many people.
    • 5/5
      I couldn't stop reading The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb. Though I had a remote recollection of hearing about "Mrs. Tom Thumb," I never realized she was a real person until I read Melanie Benjamin's book. Benjamin does an excellent job of recounting both the charm and disappointments of living the unusual performer's life that was Lavinia Warren Bump's. One of P. T. Barnum's most successful and famous acts for years, Vinnie and her legendary husband, Tom Thumb, travelled the world as perfect specimens of humans in miniature, lavish in fine clothing, jewels, and elegant horse-drawn carriage. Vinnie's relationships with Barnum, Tom Thumb and her beloved sister, Minnie, (also a little person and fellow Barnum performer), and historical references from prominent news sources of the day figure prominently in the book and give the story it's dose of realism. Benjamin sticks strictly to the facts and has produced an entertaining, satisfying read.
    • 5/5
      Before reading this book, I knew very little about Lavinia Warren other than the fact that she was married to General Tom Thumb. In this well-imagined look at her life, Melanie Benjamin recreates a unique time in American history populated by larger-than-life characters (no matter what their size). Once I started this engaging book, I simply couldn't put it down. Combining historical fact with well-researched creative license, Benjamin crafted a highly enjoyable work of historical fiction. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed Alice I Have Been or who enjoys the early history of the circus. 5 stars.
    • 4/5
      I began this book not knowing anything about Vinnie Bump Stratton, and now, like many historical fiction pieces I have read, Benjamin's account has made me want to read even more about this interesting woman. Benjamin's use of telling the story as an autobiography could have gone all wrong, and in spots I was waiting for it to as Vinnie would allude, foreshadow and sometimes just lead you right to future action, but the story was still able to be fresh and make me read on for the full details. The story of Vinnie Stratton alone is a compelling one, but Benjamin also painted such an interesting picture of the the U.S. pre, during and post-Civil War to offer a well rounded view of the Vinnie's world. This book is a real gem of historical fiction.
    • 4/5
      What an amazing story about an amazing woman (little or not) her family tragedies, her hopes and dreams. Her relationship with her sister, her husband and her love for Barnum. What an amazing life she led.
    • 4/5
      This isn’t really an autobiography, but fictionalized history told from the POV of Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump- Vinnie- who later married and became Mrs. Charles Stratton, AKA Tom Thumb. These were real people; famous in show business, touring the world and performing before presidents and royalty. While they were brought into show business because of their stature- they were little people- they elevated themselves above the sideshow acts so common in those days and were stage performers who sang and danced. Vinnie, whose adult height was 32 inches, was born in 1841. Her family, who farmed in Massachusetts, at first sought to keep her home. Vinnie insisted on attending school, however, and did so well that at age 16 she became the teacher at the country schoolhouse. Except for her younger sister, Minnie- even tinier than Vinnie- Vinnie’s siblings were all of average height. Minnie, the shy opposite of the outgoing, adventure seeking Vinnie, chose to stay home, content to knit and sew by the hearth. Vinnie was ambitious, unsatisfied with farm and family life that she found stultifying. When a ‘cousin’ came calling to ask her to perform on his showboat, she readily agreed. Even though that situation turned bad, it gave her a life long addiction to the stage. But show business is only the setting for the novel. The true heart of the story is relationships. Vinnie and Minnie (who did end up sucked into show business), Vinnie and P.T. Barnum, Vinnie and Stratton. Love, responsibility, guilt, and envy. And, for that matter, Vinnie’s relationship with herself. In this novel, she comes off as not being the most likable person in the world. She’s judgmental, self important, and blind to her own faults. But, given the hand that life dealt her, it’s hard to think too badly of her. She made the best of what was available to her. And that’s really all anyone can do. Even though I felt irritated by her at times, I also felt sympathy for her situation. And a lot of admiration- she worked tirelessly, endured horrid conditions on show trips, and was never afraid of a challenge. She was determined to live life on her own terms, and not let her size limit or define her. The fact that Vinnie was a walking contradiction made her a very interesting character, even in her bad moments. The world of 19th century show business and New York high society has a harsh brilliance. The book is well done and fascinated me. It was not *quite* a can’t-put-it-down read, but close.
    • 5/5
      I have found a new favorite author. This book was thick and not a quick read but is worth every page. Brilliant. Her first book, Alice I Have Been, was also a delight. In my opinion, she sits upon my favorite author list along with Diana Gabaldon and J.K. Rowling.
    • 4/5
      An interesting take on both a period in history and an unusual individual, "Mrs. Tom Thumb" is a good, engaging read. Lavinia comes across as a strong character and a strong narrative voice, both of which help draw the reader in. I'm not the biggest fan of first person narrative due to its limitations but for this tale it makes sense. The trade-off is that, of course, other characters and situations remain in skewed perspective, seen only through Vinnie's lens. It's probably a testament to the story that I'd be interested to see these things from other perspectives: is Charlie Stratton really as pathetic as Vinnie's scorn makes him out to be? Is PT Barnum really as wonderful as she thinks? What was life like for Minnie, both at home and in the show? Any book that can make me think that much about these things speaks to the strength of its writing.