Drew Friedman's Sideshow Freaks

Like Drew Friedman, I too experienced my first freak show at the tender age of 10. Every year the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros.circus would set up shop in the parking lot of the Commack Arena on LI and the entirety of Vets Highway would smell like elephant dung when the wind blew in from the south. In 1969, I took my well-earned dime to the freak show and bought a postcard from the smallest woman in the world. After that I was hooked. I read the National Enquirer and the Weekly World News like a fiend, always on the lookout for the latest news about Lobster Boy or hoping for a new set of siamese twins to obsess over.When I finally saw the movie "Freaks" during a midnight showing in Syracuse (de rigueur viewing for anyone attending college in the 70s), I knew there was a reason why I loved these "freaks" so much - they were more human and real than any "normal" person I met in suburbia.These people were who they were, with no apologies. No covering up or hiding "inperfections." They were perfect as they were, or perhaps even more perfect because of their refusal to deny who they were.Drew's latest book is a loving tribute to these imperfectly perfect people. His attention to the slightest detail is what I've always loved about his work. But it's also his ability to bring these people to life and the obvious love he has for his subjects that gives the book its heart. This is not a book that you will look at once and then place on the coffee table, only to move it when you dust (or in my case, IF I dust.) You'll be reaching for this book with your little flipper arms time and time again.

Book was in perfect condition.Nicely formatted.About 100 stories of famous 'freaks' ,each with big beautiful,colorful drawings(paintings ?) Full page size.They made lemonade out of what 'normal'folks considered lemons. They had always been stared at and most appreciated being able to make money from their differences and being celebrities. Many retired well off because of the chance to exhibit their uniqueness. Farms ,businesses,going independent finding love ,marriage.having hoards of kids.I especially liked Dolly Dimples,'the most beautiful fat lady' ,555lbs.had heart attack,scared,lost443lbs,wrote diet and health book(s?) .Made lemonade out of being fat ,made lemonade out of being thin. These people didn't hide away and cry,they made the best of their gifts(or handicaps if you look at it that way).As for me ...portion control...portion control like Dolly.

Cool book.

Drew Friedman is an amazing artist, this book is perfect.

Sadly, not much information about the Sideshow performers. The Foreword is really the most original writing here. The pictures are well drawn, but I thought I was getting the original pictures not drawings of them.

I have always loved Drew Friedman's work, and this is a presentation of illustrations with the true history of the freaks he illustrates.

Absolutely beautiful hardcover book! Thank you!

A new book from Drew Friedman is always a treat and Drew Friedman's Sideshow Freaks (name above the title, impressive!) does not disappoint. In his previous volumes of Old Jewish Comedians, Drew drew loving portraits of funny folks in his trademark warts-and-all style. In the case of sideshow freaks, everything else has been left out. This time it's just the warts.Obviously, there's no need for caricature or exaggeration when depicting human oddities; these people are ugly enough just as they are. But that's where Friedman weaves his magic. There's no sense of that "step right up and see the Jo-Jo the dog-faced boy!" sensationalism. In fact, it's the reverse. These are exceptionally respectful portraits of unusual people, not meant to mock or degrade them. Yet, Drew doesn't put them on a pedestal either. Here they are, as they were. Interesting to look at, carefully and accurately rendered. Bizarre, yes. But still very human.The artwork is wonderful. No surprise there. The most fascinating thing to me is the tone of the book. Here are the freaks, take 'em or leave 'em. Even the text that accompanies each painting (co-written by K. Bidus) has this matter-of-fact attitude. It lists the person's real name along with his or her stage name (tent name?) and some basic facts about place of birth and description of the particular freak's skill or deformity. It reads like a directory of dentists. "Dr. Feldstein received his degree in orthodontia in 1946 and was well known for his excellent bridgework." (This charming approach is picked up by Penn Jillette in his entertaining and funny introduction.) It's the absolute absence of shock value that makes the book so delightful and refreshing.As usual, highly recommended.

Everything great

Very nice, new book!!

für fans von freak- und sideshows ein must have !die "freaks" sind toll gemalt und beschrieben.ein farbenprächtiges zeitloses dokument !

Drew Friedman's work is always a lot of fun, and this collection is no different.