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The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 4,050 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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.
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"A simple read, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb was very enjoyable. Particularly, I appreciated the historical viewpoint of Vinnie Bump, a character in our nation's history whom I am not as familiar with, but who had a profound impact on the entertainment industry in the 1800's and beyond. The book displayed the author's propriety, and was a refreshing read compared to some of the more explicit books I've read lately. If you enjoy historical fiction, and are looking for one highlighting such a time in the United States' history, this is a great book to curl up with."
— Meredith (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Selected for the August 2011 Indie Next List
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb Listener Reviews
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" i really enjoyed this. it's a fascinating account of an incredibly innovative time in our history. "
— Brittney, 2/18/2014 -
" Another really enjoyable historical fiction by Melanie Benjamin. I cannot wait for her next book, I'm definitely going to keep up with her novels every time she releases a new one! I highly enjoy her writing. "
— Stephanie, 2/14/2014 -
" I started off really liking this book but ended up feeling it was average. It is the fictional autobiography of the real Lavinia Warren Bump Stratton who was a little person and the wife of the man known as General Tom Thumb. I can't decide if I like Lavinia which is probably why I am unsure of the book. "
— Kristina, 2/10/2014 -
" I really enjoy this author. I loved the historical aspect of this book. "
— Heather, 2/8/2014 -
" Yes Virginia, there was a Mrs. Tom Thumb. Vinnie (Lavinia Warren Bump) spent her lifetime in a body much smaller than her ambition. She certainly lead a charismatic life, but there is no evidence of her ever being happy. "
— Carol, 1/29/2014 -
" This is a fictional account of a real-life person. I thought the main character was kind of passive-dramatic. She was never really passionate about anything, but she seemed to have inner turmoil about everything. And the book was pretty depressing. "
— Ro, 1/22/2014 -
" I really wanted to give 3 1/2 stars "
— Colette, 1/15/2014 -
" I am not sure how much of this book is fact and how much is fiction, but I really enjoyed the book. It was a wonderful story about a person that I knew nothing about. "
— Julie, 11/22/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. If you like historical fiction and anything to do with circus stories or carnivals, then you'll love this one! The story was a little long in the middle, but overall a fast, easy, enjoyable read. "
— Madeline, 11/22/2013 -
" Although this is historical fiction, the views of the protagonist are timeless. "
— Susan, 11/17/2013 -
" This is a darling " little " story ! "
— Angie, 11/11/2013 -
" Title is self explanatory. Very entertaining, I enjoyed it very much although I didn't much care for "Mrs Thumb",she was manipulative, distrusting and controlling although who knows what she really felt like being only 38" tall. "
— Kitty, 8/16/2013 -
" I love historical fiction especially Civil War-era, and of course, the fictionalization of such interesting characters should have had me. But I just didn't care for any of the characters and pushed myself to finish this. "
— Tj, 8/4/2013 -
" I wanted to like this more than I did, which was exactly how I felt about her other book Alice Have I Been. "
— Molly, 6/20/2013 -
" Loved getting to know Lavinia Warren Bump Stratton. This is a woman with an ego that was larger than life! Enjoyable historical fiction. "
— Lorelie, 6/4/2013 -
" Entertaining. Can hardly wait to read The Aviator's wife. "
— Jaime, 12/9/2012 -
" A good novel that sent me to the Internet to find the facts. The author seems to have kept very close to what is known about Vinnie, just adding the thoughts and emotions. "
— Amy, 8/4/2012 -
" Disappointing. Great concept and some intersting backround - but the narrative voice seemed dated, cloying, and much of the story seemed repetitive in plot and language. I also found our heroine to 'all-knowing' at age 17 for a sheltered, small town,samll person in the late 1800's. Sigh. "
— Linda, 2/7/2012 -
" What a great ride this novel was! I loved spending time with Vinnie and PT Barnum - great tales and characters. How neat to be famous for being short! "
— Tiki, 1/23/2012 -
" Truly enjoyed this book. Vinnie was a bit cold and calous but not everyone in life is warm and fuzzy. "
— Vaunette, 12/11/2011 -
" I'm a fan of historical fiction so this book was fun for me. A bit slow at the start but after the first 60 pages or so it really flies. Added bonus: The P.T. Barnum history throughout was fun for this circus lover. "
— Ebony, 12/5/2011 -
" I found this to be a fascinating story. I knew a bit about Tom Thumb, but knew nothing about his wife. Even though this book was fiction, it read like a diary or true autobiography. After reading and enjoying this book, I wanted to know more and did some research on my own. "
— Joyce, 10/28/2011 -
" Great historical fiction. I really loved this book, mostly because I didn't always "like" the main character. She was real, with flaws! "
— Carolyn, 10/24/2011 -
" I really like this book. Very touching and thought provoking. "
— Louisa, 10/21/2011 -
" Good job of transporting us to the mid-19th century and into the skin of Vinnie Warren Stratton, miniature woman who escapes from a scary showman due to the Civil War, and later signs up with P. T. Barnum, who orchestrates her marriage to Tom Thumb. "
— Libby, 10/15/2011 -
" This is a book written about someone who has a lot of regrets about life, but who probably wouldn't have changed anything if given the opportunity to do so. An interesting character study, and I think I'm at an age to see how true to life that can be. Worth a read. "
— Laura, 10/15/2011 -
" When I read an interesting novel based on a real person's life, it makes me want to go find an actual biography to see if the fiction matches the fact (minus imagined conversations, etc., of course). That said, I enjoy this writing format and would recommend this book to others who do as well. "
— Kate, 10/14/2011 -
" This was a good look at life during that time and how to live life as a little person. "
— Joanie, 10/14/2011
About Melanie Benjamin
Melanie Benjamin is the author of several critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling historical novels, including The Aviator’s Wife and Alice I Have Been.
About Kim Mai Guest
Kim Mai Guest is an award-winning voice actor for audiobooks and video games. She can also be heard on television shows, such as G.I. Joe: Renegades, Batman: the Brave and the Bold, and Avatar, and in movies such asChill Out Scooby Doo and Dead Space: Aftermath. Her video game work includes Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, and The Lord of the Rings.