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The Long Shadows: the Story of Jake Erlich
The Long A True-Life Novel
The Long Shadows is a fascinating true-life novel about Jacob Reuben Erlich, who, at 8 foot 6, was among the tallest men in the world. Best known by his stage name, Jack Earle, he would overcome crippling shyness, depression, temporary blindness and the physical challenges of a giant’s frame to earn widespread acclaim during his career as a silent film star, circus performer, artist, poet and vaudevillian.
Drawing on ten years of research culled from family lore, newspaper archives, historical documents and the recorded recollections of Earle’s contemporaries, author Andrew Erlich weaves a fascinating bio-fictional account of a remarkable man and the cast of colorful characters who knew him. Along the way, we learn a great deal about courage, character, and one man’s unique perspective on a broad sweep of history that encompassed the Great Depression, the immigrant experience in turn-of-the-century Texas, silent films, life in the circus, the modern art movement and the domestic anti-Semitism that accompanied the run-up to World War II.
The Long Shadows is a fascinating true-life novel about Jacob Reuben Erlich, who, at 8 foot 6, was among the tallest men in the world. Best known by his stage name, Jack Earle, he would overcome crippling shyness, depression, temporary blindness and the physical challenges of a giant’s frame to earn widespread acclaim during his career as a silent film star, circus performer, artist, poet and vaudevillian.
Drawing on ten years of research culled from family lore, newspaper archives, historical documents and the recorded recollections of Earle’s contemporaries, author Andrew Erlich weaves a fascinating bio-fictional account of a remarkable man and the cast of colorful characters who knew him. Along the way, we learn a great deal about courage, character, and one man’s unique perspective on a broad sweep of history that encompassed the Great Depression, the immigrant experience in turn-of-the-century Texas, silent films, life in the circus, the modern art movement and the domestic anti-Semitism that accompanied the run-up to World War II.
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First published June 1, 2012
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June 24, 2012
Imagine how difficult your life might have been if you were not only one of the tallest people in your school, but, not long after, one of the tallest humans in the world. Now, imagine you had a sensitive and artistic temperament to boot and you were the son of recently arrived immigrants.
This is the story of Jake Erlich, who managed to overcome these challenges and more in a remarkable like that included careers as a silent film star, vaudeville performer. "side show freak" at Ringling Brothers, and also a celebrated painter, sculptor, and poet. This is a fascinating and touching story written by his his nephew, Andrew. An inspiring read...
This is the story of Jake Erlich, who managed to overcome these challenges and more in a remarkable like that included careers as a silent film star, vaudeville performer. "side show freak" at Ringling Brothers, and also a celebrated painter, sculptor, and poet. This is a fascinating and touching story written by his his nephew, Andrew. An inspiring read...
Displaying 1 of 1 review