"The Elephant Man" by Frederick Drimmer

Note: this entry has been copied and pasted from my other blog which is on more general literature other than Joseph Merrick.

The Elephant Man by Frederick Drimmer is a sensitive, respectful, and truthful portrayal of Joseph Carey Merrick's life in the Victorian Era. Most of the book is factual, but there is some fictional elements interwoven beautifully like a flax basket, creating a well-rounded and touching story. Even though this is aimed for children, adults can enjoy it as well. Be warned though: a few of the images located somewhere in the book can be unsettling, even upsetting, especially for children; however, adults might find them a little unsettling too. But that shouldn't detract from the lovely story woven about Merrick's life.

Drimmer makes no bones about the more unsavoury aspects of Joseph's life, especially the emotional and physical abuse he got as a young child, and the severe thrashing he endures from his father is both upsetting and shocking, especially when you realize that Joseph was a real person, and all these other people in his life (aside from two or three fictional characters added in) were all real people too. The trauma he endured in the workhouse is well portrayed, with the portrayal of the monotonous, back-breaking work, the conditions, and the flack he got from other workers whilst in the Leicester Union Workhouse.

However, the reader will be relieved to know that the last years of Merrick's life were spent in relative pleasance and peace after he is admitted permanently to the London Hospital in 1886, under Frederick Treves and the sweet Nurse Ireland. Joseph's gentleness and pleasant, curiously child-like and innocent personality despite his terrible condition endears readers to the young man who remained a gentle man (and gentleman) even despite his rapidly advancing condition that eventually contributed to his death in 1890. Drimmer has clearly made sure that from the outset, there is no fear or horror toward Joseph Carey Merrick, the Elephant Man, right from chapter one.