Barnum's Own Story

Barnum's career of showmanship and charlatanry was marked by a surprising undercurrent of honesty and forthrightness — and his exuberant autobiography forms a happy combination of all those traits. In a classic of self-accusation and self-justification, he reveals the stories behind his famous hoaxes and publicity stunts, exposing 19th-century America's gullibility and thirst for marvels. The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman as Barnum, is scheduled for release in December 2017. Illustrations throughout.