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History Isn’t Always Black and White
The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek explores the unique, lesser-known area of entertainment history and how it impacted performing arts and societal changes. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was important for me to write this book because there was remarkably little written on the subject previously. There are plenty of books on sideshow that elaborate on various acts, but the geek act is always just sort of glossed over in the history books. I am not only fascinated by the geek act on a personal level, but given how it is essentially a dead act with such a deep history, I felt it would be valuable to release a detailed work on the subject.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
I did a tremendous amount of research for the book. I visited libraries, corresponded with academic institutions, read through hundreds of newspaper achieves, and ended up interviewing nearly a dozen people for the project that had expertise on the subject of geek (including three people that actually performed as geeks decades prior). This is not to mention the numerous books, cabinet cards, and old sideshow pitchbooks that I procured for the project. My Works Cited section alone is 32 pages long. It took five years of research and writing to put everything together.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to help granulate the definition of the the sideshow geek because any source you find is going to have a different definition. For one of the chapters, I interviewed numerous thought leaders in sideshow and consulted numerous historical sources to help answer the question “What is a sideshow geek?” as I searched for commonalities among the various perspectives. I also wanted to explore the very evolution of the word linguistically and how much the meaning of the word “geek” has shifted away from sideshow in recent generations to mean something completely different by todays standards.
Naturally, with a book like this that deals with a controversial historical subject, it is important to take the good with the bad. My perspective was to report the history of the geek act in a relatively impartial way without taking a strong moral stance and let the reader draw their own conclusions. History isn’t always black and white, so it’s important to be aware of nuance when you are examining something historically that took place in a different time period and wasn’t restricted to a singular occurrence.
Will there be a follow-up book to The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek? If so, what topics can readers expect in the next book?
Absolutely. I’m working on the follow-up now. It will be very similar to The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek in the sense that it will also be a sideshow book that deals with the history of another gruesome sideshow act. However, this time I am wrapping the general history around a personal quest of myself trying to solve a real-life showbusiness mystery regarding one of the most extreme practitioners of this particular type of act. Essentially, I’m going to discuss the history of the genre he performed in while trying to figure out his true identity. Will I succeed? Find out all about it in my next book!
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The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek: Snake Eaters, Human Ostriches, & Other Extreme Entertainments
Nathan Wakefield’s The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek offers an insightful exploration into the historical phenomenon of the sideshow geek, a term that has significantly evolved over time. Unlike today’s association with technology enthusiasts or experts in niche topics, the original ‘geek’ was a carnival sideshow performer known for engaging in shocking acts, such as biting off chicken heads or eating snakes. Wakefield delves into the lives of these performers, many of whom portrayed themselves as ‘wild men’ adorned with mud and fur, captivating Victorian audiences with their bizarre and often grotesque performances.
Wakefield’s research is thorough, bolstered by a wealth of references, sources, and visual aids, including vintage photographs and drawings. He enriches the narrative with interviews from former geeks, providing a personal touch to the historical recount. The writing is approachable and engaging, taking readers into a world rarely visited. The vivid descriptions of the acts, some involving animal cruelty, can be unsettling, reflecting a bygone era’s entertainment values vastly different from today’s standards. The book also touches on the poignant life stories of the geeks, many of whom were simply striving to make a living under challenging circumstances.
This book will likely attract readers interested in unique historical narratives, particularly those pertaining to entertainment and societal changes. Readers intrigued by historical narratives and unique entertainment forms will find this book enriching. However, it’s worth noting that its vivid portrayals of past practices are best appreciated by those with an interest in the more graphic aspects of history. Wakefield’s work serves as a reminder of the evolving nature of entertainment and the human inclination towards the unconventional while also acknowledging the darker aspects of these historical practices.
Nathan Wakefield’s The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek is a meticulously researched and engagingly written work, offering a unique window into a lesser-known chapter of entertainment history. It skillfully balances historical detail with human stories, making it a compelling read for those fascinated by the evolution of performance art and societal change.
Pages: 523 | ASIN : B0CW2TRWJX
Unexplainable Compulsion to Write
Jonathan Dickinson looks into the history and thoughts of Dickinson after his shipwreck on the Florida coast and the impact it had on him and the people they encountered. What research did you do to understand the backdrop for your book?
Dickinson’s original manuscript, which focused solely on his shipwreck and escape from hostile natives, has been available for many years. Telling the story in a broader context first led me to historical records in his native Jamaica. Understanding that Dickinson was witness to the dying days of Spanish Florida involved sifting through numerous eyewitness accounts in several Spanish archives. Learning the perspective of Florida’s Native Americans meant delving into and distilling the academic works of modern archeologists and historians.
What were some ideas that were important to you to share in this book?
I’ve always felt that Dickinson was a bit myopic in his journal. Yes, it’s a hair-raising account of suffering and courage, but it’s both odd and irritating that this intelligent, well-traveled merchant offers so few political insights as to the relationships between the Indian tribes he encountered along his way. The same goes for the Spanish colonists and their testy relations with the Indians and the dire threat Florida faced from the English colonists who were flexing their military muscles in Georgia and Carolina.
Dickinson might not have realized that he was witness to the dying days of Spanish Florida, but providing more detail would have allowed the rest of us to understand what was unfolding. Hence, I saw my purpose as to gather up the historical fragments and bundle them into a story explaining why Spain failed in Florida and why its Indians disappeared in the process.
Equally important to me was to avoid an academic dissertation and keep the story concise enough to be appreciated by a general readership – people who are curious to learn more about the subject but who have scant knowledge about it. This also meant paraphrasing some of the archaic expressions and woeful misspellings that make the original Dickinson journal so hard to read.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Sorry…no earthquaking epiphanies. Just as some folks feel their souls will shrivel if they don’t paint on canvas or climb mountains, I’ve always had this unexplainable compulsion to write about what strikes me as interesting – especially if no one has tackled the subject before. There’s a special challenge – maybe like a detective delving into an unsolved cold case – in pulling together threads of information and knitting them into some sort of literary sweater. You always think you’ve missed a stitch, or the sleeves are too long. But if enough folks think your new book is interesting, it motivates you to keep pecking away on a new topic, perhaps without mixing metaphors as I just did.
What is the next book you are working on?
I’m not “working on” a book right now – as in typing feverishly. When I send a book off at last, there’s a sense of relief not unlike finally ushering your twenties-something offspring out the door. Then comes a lull when you tidy up the office, toss out extraneous research notes and file away those that may be needed in case some nitpicker wants to argue a point (my papers remain unmolested in their sarcophagus). Then comes the book talks and promotions (Hey, it’s done with already! But no.).
Yet, “working on” the next one goes on inside the head. Nowadays the brain churns away mostly on an historical fiction tome. About Berlin when The Wall is about to fall and a certain young Russian KGB officer in Berlin struggles to grasp what’s happening to the Soviet empire. He has a name…Pushkin…who is really…you guessed it.
It will mean a lot of work. But maybe if enough readers find the latest book interesting, I’ll give it a try.
Jonathan Dickinson
Jonathan Dickinson by James D. Snyder offers a compelling glimpse into a pivotal moment in early American history. Drawing from the journal entries of Jonathan Dickinson, an American Quaker merchant navigating the New World in 1696, Snyder reconstructs the harrowing journey of Dickinson and his companions after their ship was wrecked off the Florida coast. The account chronicles their encounters with Native American tribes and their ultimate arrival at English settlements.
The book documents Dickinson’s expedition and delves into his perspective on the Native Americans, revealing attitudes reflective of his time’s prevailing ideologies. The title hints at Snyder’s deeper exploration of the interactions and tensions between Native Americans and European settlers. What stands out in Snyder’s work is its historiographic nature, effectively merging history with literature to bridge historical gaps. While it offers a detailed historical account, the narrative primarily revolves around Dickinson’s personal experiences, which may narrow the broader historical lens. As a mirror of the era’s intricate socio-cultural dynamics, Dickinson’s perspectives and actions offer a rich opportunity for insightful reflection.
Snyder’s thorough compilation of historical records is laudable and invites readers to a deeper, more nuanced exploration by considering various perspectives to fully appreciate the multifaceted nature of the events depicted. The work stands as a significant addition to historical literature, enriching the reader’s experience through active engagement and critical thought, thereby enhancing one’s appreciation of its depth and context.
Jonathan Dickinson is a tale of survival and discovery, and it’s a window into the intricate and often tumultuous relationship between different cultures during a formative period in American history.
Pages: 136 | ISBN : 9781737097655
George Mason’s America
Diving into the crucible of American history, particularly the tales of its founding fathers and the revolutionary act of declaring independence is like peering into the bedrock of the nation’s identity. The outcome of their labors is viewed as the epitome of liberty, autonomy, and profound emancipation from the despotic rule of the time. However, what if there was a potential divergence in this hallowed narrative? What if the architects of America’s birth had erred? Could the Declaration of Independence have been crafted to be more inclusive, resistant to internal corruption, or even just fundamentally different? This proposition is investigated by considering an alternate scenario where the oft-forgotten founding father, George Mason, steers America’s founding documents towards an ideal aimed at curbing aristocratic dominance. A society where the famous phrase “We, the people” transmutes into “We, the people of free colonies”.
Laurie Thomas Vass’s book, George Mason’s America: The State Sovereignty Alternative to Madison’s Centralized American Ruling Class Aristocracy, is a compelling examination of this alternate reality. It melds together the principles encapsulated in Mason’s draft of the constitution and conceptualizes an America shaped by this proposed document. The author presents a robust case for Mason’s model, theorizing about the enduring benefits that could have been conferred upon the American citizenry had his proposals been adopted. This book, at its core, pays homage to the life and work of an eminent yet often overshadowed figure in American history, who could be perceived as having been radically ahead of his era.
Drawing substantially from the annals of history, The authors narrative is fortified with an array of contemporary sources, including Mason’s personal writings and correspondences. This use of direct quotes, while abundant, does lend the book credibility, supporting Mason’s reasoning and providing insight into why his ideas were overlooked.
This examination is more than a historical analysis—it’s a thoughtful, provocative exploration of the road not taken, inviting readers to consider the dynamic potential of alternative histories. So delve into the pages of George Mason’s America and lose yourself in a mesmerizing what-if scenario of American history.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0C1RLN184
LITERARY TITAN 