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The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences
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222 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1923
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Frederick Treves
163 books6 followersSir Frederick Treves, Bt, GCVO, CH, CB, LL.D, FRCS
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 6, 2020
Lo sguardo degli altri altera il modo in cui noi guardiamo a noi stessi. E vale anche il viceversa: il modo in cui noi guardiamo a noi stessi, determina il modo in cui gli altri ci guardano.
L’Uomo elefante, nel suo essere mostruoso, mi ha fatto venire in mente Frankenstein di Mary Shelley.
“L’Uomo Elefante non poteva farsi vedere per strada. Sarebbe stato aggredito dalla folla, e fermato dalla polizia. Era costretto a vivere isolato dal mondo, come l’Uomo dalla maschera di ferro.”
Questa mostruosità percepita dagli altri, lo rende iper sensibile e quando finalmente viene trattato da essere umano ed è accarezzato, l’emozione è tanta che scoppia a piangere.
Voleva essere solo come tutti gli altri. Era precipitato nell’abisso degli inferi, ma il suo spirito non ne era uscito deformato.
L’Uomo elefante, nel suo essere mostruoso, mi ha fatto venire in mente Frankenstein di Mary Shelley.
“L’Uomo Elefante non poteva farsi vedere per strada. Sarebbe stato aggredito dalla folla, e fermato dalla polizia. Era costretto a vivere isolato dal mondo, come l’Uomo dalla maschera di ferro.”
Questa mostruosità percepita dagli altri, lo rende iper sensibile e quando finalmente viene trattato da essere umano ed è accarezzato, l’emozione è tanta che scoppia a piangere.
Voleva essere solo come tutti gli altri. Era precipitato nell’abisso degli inferi, ma il suo spirito non ne era uscito deformato.
June 12, 2015
My only reason for picking this up was, of course, Joseph (here named John) 'Elephant Man' Merrick. I first became aware of him when I saw the heartbreaking Lynch movie, so naturally I couldn't miss a first-hand account from the doctor who took care of him. I didn't expect, however, the writing to be so vivid and engaging. I was fully prepared for dry-ish essays which would perhaps include a lot of medical details, but instead they are almost in a form of a short story.
There are twelve essays altogether. Treves mostly recounts his experiences with different patients and occasionally starts musing about varied things. Like with most collections, not all of the writings managed to keep me interested, but the overall quality was great.
The Receiving Room describes the age in the mid-19th century before ambulance service. The image is powerful: people who accompany the wounded move like a wave towards the London Hospital and have to be stopped by the porter, two drunken and brawling women covered in blood, one efficient nurse who can handle all kinds of things also likes swigs of gin now and then but is always extremely professional. The unhygienic conditions and the prevalence of sepsis make you grateful of the efforts of the 21st century.
A Cure for Nerves is the story of a woman in her own words, a woman whose situation was much too common back in the day. She is a neurotic woman. Her husband is unsympathetic. He claims her ailments are imaginary and that the illness is a grievance to himself. He's sick of her moanings, and that she's perfectly fine because he is fine (what a load of horseshit logic). All she has to do is pull herself together! He also humiliates her in front of their friends, so he's just an all-round perfect spouse. When she visits a doctor and later remembers the letter that he wrote to recommend her as a patient to another, she finds that in the letter the doctor completely undermines her. The beginning is incredibly depressing but eventually the woman is forced to face her fears and miraculously gets better. Not sure how I feel about that, but an interesting piece nevertheless.
Two Women continues with the sombre mood when Treves examines the traits of her female patients. One of them is a suburban woman who keeps her breast cancer a secret as long as she can to save her husband from grief. The other one is a Whitechapel woman, whose drunk husband beats her (but not much, because then she obviously wouldn't be able to earn a living and support her family). The husband ends up torching his wife during a heated argument, and just before she dies she claims it was an accident.
Now that I'm writing my review a couple of days after finishing the collection, I realize that there's a lot of sadness running through it. There is hope too, like when a patient recovers and personally comes to thank Treves for saving his life, but the melancholy that comes from death, injuries, and broken hearts can't be ignored.
A few times Treves goes into another direction entirely. For example, in one essay he describes a nightmare he once had in India (which reads like a proper horror story), and in another one he discusses the topic of afterlife and apparitions, and makes notes of astronomer Camille Flammarion's article "At the Moment of Death". It appears that Treves didn't believe in the supernatural, but instead leans towards thinking that apparitions don't appear to people that are healthy mentally and physically. He does admit, though, that a negative experience (not seeing anything that would confirm Flammarion's claims) is not an argument. He just simply hasn't seen anything yet.
Despite liking the other essays as well, the one I will remember forever is obviously The Elephant Man. Treves's attitude felt off-putting at first, since he doesn't shy away from constantly poking at Merrick's deformities, calling him "the most disgusting specimen of humanity" he had ever seen and "a perverted object". It's understandable that someone like Merrick might provoke a reaction of some kind from others, but it was uncomfortable to read it from Treves. The tone did change later, when Treves realized Merrick was actually a lot smarter than he seemed.
Never in all his life had Merrick anyone to talk to, but he longed for conversations. He also became an avid reader and ended up loving romances the most (he understood the type of Treves's house in the context of Jane Austen's Emma). The one thing everyone should know about Joseph Merrick, though, is his child-like adoration of things that were taken for granted by others. He went into the theatre and treated everything he saw as something that belonged to the real world, and enjoyed everything he did very deeply. He burst into tears when he met the first woman who had ever smiled to him and shaken his hand.
There is undoubtedly embellishment in all of Treves's essays, and in The Elephant Man he makes it seem like Merrick was a prison of sorts in the Mile End shop, when in fact Merrick himself proposed the owner that he should be exhibited. Still, the core of the story is inspiring. Merrick was taken care of for the rest of his life (thanks to an abundance of donations from the public) and he learned to function in the society. It's unclear what people really thought about him (whether he was still considered an oddity or even a pet), but he seemed to enjoy himself.
His last wish was to see the countryside. The image of him sitting on a field in the sun and gathering violets... That will always be how I'll remember him.
"It would be reasonable to surmise that he would become a spiteful and malignant misanthrope, swollen with venom and filled with hatred of his fellow-men, or, on the other hand, that he would degenerate into a despairing melancholic on the verge of idiocy. Merrick, however, was no such being. He had passed through the fire and had come out unscathed. His troubles had ennobled him. He showed himself to be a gentle, affectionate and lovable creature, as amiable as a happy woman, free from any trace of cynicism or resentment, without a grievance and without an unkind word for anyone. I have never heard him complain. I have never heard him deplore his ruined life or resent the treatment he had received at the hands of callous keepers."
There are twelve essays altogether. Treves mostly recounts his experiences with different patients and occasionally starts musing about varied things. Like with most collections, not all of the writings managed to keep me interested, but the overall quality was great.
The Receiving Room describes the age in the mid-19th century before ambulance service. The image is powerful: people who accompany the wounded move like a wave towards the London Hospital and have to be stopped by the porter, two drunken and brawling women covered in blood, one efficient nurse who can handle all kinds of things also likes swigs of gin now and then but is always extremely professional. The unhygienic conditions and the prevalence of sepsis make you grateful of the efforts of the 21st century.
A Cure for Nerves is the story of a woman in her own words, a woman whose situation was much too common back in the day. She is a neurotic woman. Her husband is unsympathetic. He claims her ailments are imaginary and that the illness is a grievance to himself. He's sick of her moanings, and that she's perfectly fine because he is fine (what a load of horseshit logic). All she has to do is pull herself together! He also humiliates her in front of their friends, so he's just an all-round perfect spouse. When she visits a doctor and later remembers the letter that he wrote to recommend her as a patient to another, she finds that in the letter the doctor completely undermines her. The beginning is incredibly depressing but eventually the woman is forced to face her fears and miraculously gets better. Not sure how I feel about that, but an interesting piece nevertheless.
Two Women continues with the sombre mood when Treves examines the traits of her female patients. One of them is a suburban woman who keeps her breast cancer a secret as long as she can to save her husband from grief. The other one is a Whitechapel woman, whose drunk husband beats her (but not much, because then she obviously wouldn't be able to earn a living and support her family). The husband ends up torching his wife during a heated argument, and just before she dies she claims it was an accident.
Now that I'm writing my review a couple of days after finishing the collection, I realize that there's a lot of sadness running through it. There is hope too, like when a patient recovers and personally comes to thank Treves for saving his life, but the melancholy that comes from death, injuries, and broken hearts can't be ignored.
A few times Treves goes into another direction entirely. For example, in one essay he describes a nightmare he once had in India (which reads like a proper horror story), and in another one he discusses the topic of afterlife and apparitions, and makes notes of astronomer Camille Flammarion's article "At the Moment of Death". It appears that Treves didn't believe in the supernatural, but instead leans towards thinking that apparitions don't appear to people that are healthy mentally and physically. He does admit, though, that a negative experience (not seeing anything that would confirm Flammarion's claims) is not an argument. He just simply hasn't seen anything yet.
Despite liking the other essays as well, the one I will remember forever is obviously The Elephant Man. Treves's attitude felt off-putting at first, since he doesn't shy away from constantly poking at Merrick's deformities, calling him "the most disgusting specimen of humanity" he had ever seen and "a perverted object". It's understandable that someone like Merrick might provoke a reaction of some kind from others, but it was uncomfortable to read it from Treves. The tone did change later, when Treves realized Merrick was actually a lot smarter than he seemed.
Never in all his life had Merrick anyone to talk to, but he longed for conversations. He also became an avid reader and ended up loving romances the most (he understood the type of Treves's house in the context of Jane Austen's Emma). The one thing everyone should know about Joseph Merrick, though, is his child-like adoration of things that were taken for granted by others. He went into the theatre and treated everything he saw as something that belonged to the real world, and enjoyed everything he did very deeply. He burst into tears when he met the first woman who had ever smiled to him and shaken his hand.
There is undoubtedly embellishment in all of Treves's essays, and in The Elephant Man he makes it seem like Merrick was a prison of sorts in the Mile End shop, when in fact Merrick himself proposed the owner that he should be exhibited. Still, the core of the story is inspiring. Merrick was taken care of for the rest of his life (thanks to an abundance of donations from the public) and he learned to function in the society. It's unclear what people really thought about him (whether he was still considered an oddity or even a pet), but he seemed to enjoy himself.
His last wish was to see the countryside. The image of him sitting on a field in the sun and gathering violets... That will always be how I'll remember him.
"It would be reasonable to surmise that he would become a spiteful and malignant misanthrope, swollen with venom and filled with hatred of his fellow-men, or, on the other hand, that he would degenerate into a despairing melancholic on the verge of idiocy. Merrick, however, was no such being. He had passed through the fire and had come out unscathed. His troubles had ennobled him. He showed himself to be a gentle, affectionate and lovable creature, as amiable as a happy woman, free from any trace of cynicism or resentment, without a grievance and without an unkind word for anyone. I have never heard him complain. I have never heard him deplore his ruined life or resent the treatment he had received at the hands of callous keepers."
April 7, 2017
"The Elephant Man and Other Reminisces" (1923) by Sir Frederick Treves is most famous for the title essay and this is indeed a memorable piece. It was Treves himself who found the terribly disfigured John Merrick living in the most deplorable conditions and being displayed as "The Elephant Man" by an unscrupulous showman.
In the event Treves rescued Merrick and was responsible for the generally happy life that the latter had for the final five years of his life. Many interesting books have since been written about this unfortunate man but the account by Treves remains a moving and powerful work.
But this is only the first of twelve chapters, each devoted to a different reminiscence from the Doctor' s career. Taken as a whole, they present a wide spectrum of Victorian and Edwardian life.
It is a pity that a good ebook version of the book isn't available. There is a copy on Amazon Kindle but this is little more than a page-by-page scan and not very convenient to read. However, it is possible to get a reasonable PB for a low price.
In the event Treves rescued Merrick and was responsible for the generally happy life that the latter had for the final five years of his life. Many interesting books have since been written about this unfortunate man but the account by Treves remains a moving and powerful work.
But this is only the first of twelve chapters, each devoted to a different reminiscence from the Doctor' s career. Taken as a whole, they present a wide spectrum of Victorian and Edwardian life.
It is a pity that a good ebook version of the book isn't available. There is a copy on Amazon Kindle but this is little more than a page-by-page scan and not very convenient to read. However, it is possible to get a reasonable PB for a low price.
February 3, 2025
« Mi ero fatto l'idea che Merrick fosse imbecille, e lo fosse dalla nascita.
Era una supposizione fondata su quel volto privo di espressione, su quelle parole biascicate, su quell'atteggiamento che lasciava intravedere una mente incapace di emozioni o di pensieri.
Stiamo parlando di un uomo nel fiore della giovinezza, ma così orribilmente deforme da provocare, in chiunque lo incontrasse uno sguardo di disgusto.
Ma le spaventose dimensioni della sua tragedia mi sono state chiare solo quando ho capito che Merrick era intelligentissimo, straordinariamente sensibile e molto incline alle fantasie, specie di carattere sentimentale.».
3,5 ⭐️ Merrick, un essere col cervello di un uomo, le fantasie di un ragazzo e l’immaginazione di un bambino che voleva solo essere «come gli altri».
Era una supposizione fondata su quel volto privo di espressione, su quelle parole biascicate, su quell'atteggiamento che lasciava intravedere una mente incapace di emozioni o di pensieri.
Stiamo parlando di un uomo nel fiore della giovinezza, ma così orribilmente deforme da provocare, in chiunque lo incontrasse uno sguardo di disgusto.
Ma le spaventose dimensioni della sua tragedia mi sono state chiare solo quando ho capito che Merrick era intelligentissimo, straordinariamente sensibile e molto incline alle fantasie, specie di carattere sentimentale.».
3,5 ⭐️ Merrick, un essere col cervello di un uomo, le fantasie di un ragazzo e l’immaginazione di un bambino che voleva solo essere «come gli altri».
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October 1, 2025“Aveva letto qualche racconto e sfogliato qualche sussidiario, ma la gioia della sua vita erano i romanzi, specie d’amore.”
Come la Creatura di Frankenstein, anche Joseph Merrick — l’Uomo Elefante — trovò rifugio nelle parole.
Il linguaggio e la letteratura gli donarono quella forma di umanità che il corpo, segnato dalla malattia e dagli sguardi giudicanti della folla, sembravano negargli.
Nella Londra vittoriana, tra paura e curiosità morbosa, la sua vita diventa un monito:
non è la deformità della carne a rendere mostri, ma l’incapacità di vedere la bellezza nascosta negli altri.
Come la Creatura di Frankenstein, anche Joseph Merrick — l’Uomo Elefante — trovò rifugio nelle parole.
Il linguaggio e la letteratura gli donarono quella forma di umanità che il corpo, segnato dalla malattia e dagli sguardi giudicanti della folla, sembravano negargli.
Nella Londra vittoriana, tra paura e curiosità morbosa, la sua vita diventa un monito:
non è la deformità della carne a rendere mostri, ma l’incapacità di vedere la bellezza nascosta negli altri.
November 29, 2018
ד"ר פרֶדריק טְריווְס מספר על ג'ון מריק, "איש הפיל". ספר מעניין ואנושי. היה מרגש לקרוא כיצד לאחר שהד"ר פרש על מריק את חסותו, עוד אנשים מהחברה הבריטית סייעו לו ותמכו בו.
October 16, 2024
mi ha fatto odiare e ricredere nel genere umano nel corso di 30 pagine
September 16, 2018
לסיפורו של ״איש הפיל״, הלוא הוא ג׳וזף מריק, נחשפתי לראשונה עת צפיתי בסרטו הנפלא של פיטר לינץ׳ ובכיכובו של ג׳ון הארט הבלתי נשכח. לאחר מכן קראתי בעיתונות ובכל מקום אפשרי על סיפורו של האדם האומלל שסבל ממחלה נדירה שבעקבותיה גופו ופניו עוותו בצורה כה קשה עד כי אנשים לא יכלו לעמוד בפני המראה הנורא. מריק בילה את רוב שנותיו בכלוב ונוצל עד תום בידי אדם מרושע שהציגו בפני הציבור תמורת תשלום משל היה דוב בקרקס .. מיותר לציין שמריק האומלל היה יכול לאחל לעצמו את תנאיו של אותו דב...
הספר, אותו כתב פרדריק טריווס, אותו רופא שהצילו מציפורניו של אותו אמרגן מרושע, מתמקד בשיקומו על ידי המחבר ובחשיפתו אט אט בפני האצולה הבריטית באותם ימים שהתפעלה מאישיותו העדינה והמסקרנת.
מאחר שהספר ממש קצר אין לו ערך מוסף לעומת הסרט ובמובן הזה מדובר במשחק שאינו שווה כוחות. מי שראה את הסרט לא ישכחהו במהרה ומי שקרא את הספר...נו, אני מניח שהבנתם את הפואנטה...
הספר, אותו כתב פרדריק טריווס, אותו רופא שהצילו מציפורניו של אותו אמרגן מרושע, מתמקד בשיקומו על ידי המחבר ובחשיפתו אט אט בפני האצולה הבריטית באותם ימים שהתפעלה מאישיותו העדינה והמסקרנת.
מאחר שהספר ממש קצר אין לו ערך מוסף לעומת הסרט ובמובן הזה מדובר במשחק שאינו שווה כוחות. מי שראה את הסרט לא ישכחהו במהרה ומי שקרא את הספר...נו, אני מניח שהבנתם את הפואנטה...
October 18, 2018
ספר קצר ומעניין. הייתי שמחה אם היה יותר פרטים ויותר עומק, מדובר יותר במאמר מאשר ספר.
May 28, 2025
“E così, alla fine, la causa della sua morte era stata proprio il patetico, disperato desiderio che aveva dominato tutta la sua vita – essere «come gli altri».”
September 26, 2025
Impossibile non sentirsi toccati da questo breve libro che racconta la storia di Joseph Merrick. Un classico del suo tempo dove le deformità fisiche diventavano pane per i freak show.
Nella sua semplicità questo racconto di una storia vera fa pensare e riflettere.
Nella sua semplicità questo racconto di una storia vera fa pensare e riflettere.
February 3, 2021
Rilettura de “L’uomo elefante”.
È sempre triste leggere le parole del dottor Treves a proposito della crudele vita vissuta da Joseph Merrick, the elephant man.
La sua gravissima malformazione l’ha portato ad una vita crudele, disgraziata e odiata in primo luogo da sè stesso.
Questo è un piccolo libro della collana Microgrammi Adelphi ma vale la pena acquistarlo per conoscere qualcosa in più su Joseph che, prima di tutto, era un essere umano.
È sempre triste leggere le parole del dottor Treves a proposito della crudele vita vissuta da Joseph Merrick, the elephant man.
La sua gravissima malformazione l’ha portato ad una vita crudele, disgraziata e odiata in primo luogo da sè stesso.
Questo è un piccolo libro della collana Microgrammi Adelphi ma vale la pena acquistarlo per conoscere qualcosa in più su Joseph che, prima di tutto, era un essere umano.
May 21, 2025
Merrick che guarda il mondo con gli occhi di un bambino...
Rimarrà sempre con me questa forza della natura che sento scorrere nella lettura di questo piccolo libretto.
E quando mi sentirò triste e incapace, lo rileggerò, con la speranza che un po' della sua sensibilità e amore per la vita rimanga attaccato a me.
Rimarrà sempre con me questa forza della natura che sento scorrere nella lettura di questo piccolo libretto.
E quando mi sentirò triste e incapace, lo rileggerò, con la speranza che un po' della sua sensibilità e amore per la vita rimanga attaccato a me.
August 17, 2021
Molto bello, l’autore è stato molto bravo a descrivere e raccontare la vita di “The elephant man”.
August 17, 2021
Storia incredibile e raccontata benissimo. Dolce e toccante.
March 26, 2021
I found Dr. Treves’ book to be quite enlightening to the practice of physicians and surgeons during the overlap of Victorian and Edwardian England. There is a great deal of pretense given, and I certainly appreciated the manner in which he describes his approach and practice. I found some humor in the descriptions of the primitive emergency setting, and it was something to entertain the notion that emergency nurses come from a long a storied breed; not much seems to have changed in the ED nurse mentality since the 1890s.
The big story of this book is John/Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man. It is certainly the draw that will cause most readers to pick this book up. His is the story that will illustrate both the total depravity of man, though Mr. Merrick’s treatment by his ‘handlers’ and the viewing public, and also the capacity for humans to empathize and extend Christian love. Dr. Treves certainly extends overtures of his own faith, and the reader never gets the sense that, even as a man of his era, he views himself as better or on a higher level than anyone. He views all of his patients as being entitled to dignity and respect as God’s children.
Dr. Treves’ work is certainly worthy of study, and I heartily recommend his book. A quick read, it does. It linger on terminology and moves quite quickly.
The big story of this book is John/Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man. It is certainly the draw that will cause most readers to pick this book up. His is the story that will illustrate both the total depravity of man, though Mr. Merrick’s treatment by his ‘handlers’ and the viewing public, and also the capacity for humans to empathize and extend Christian love. Dr. Treves certainly extends overtures of his own faith, and the reader never gets the sense that, even as a man of his era, he views himself as better or on a higher level than anyone. He views all of his patients as being entitled to dignity and respect as God’s children.
Dr. Treves’ work is certainly worthy of study, and I heartily recommend his book. A quick read, it does. It linger on terminology and moves quite quickly.
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December 18, 2022also read this for school
July 27, 2025
Che fine dolorosa ❤️🩹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2015
This is a collection of short reminiscences by Dr. Frederick Treves (1853-1923), made famous by his association with, and care for, Joseph Merrick ("The Elephant Man") and who was portrayed in the David Lynch feature film, "The Elephant Man", by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Treves was a highly-respected surgeon and this short work (222 pages) presents twelve essays by him on a number of topics.
Of course, his first essay concerns Merrick, and David Lynch took much of the factual material for his film from Treves' writings. He details how he met Merrick and how, after an examination by Treves, Merrick vanished, as the showman who was displaying him was run out of town by the police. Treves assumed he wouldn't see him again.
However, Merrick did return (after being taken on a tour by his showman/handler, who was again shut down by local authorities in both Brussels and Belgium, and who released Merrick to fend for himself.) Merrick, upon his arrival at the London train station, was mobbed by a curious and jeering crowd and was consequently frightened to death. Luckily, he had retained the card given to him by Treves after the doctor had examined him previously. After some kind policemen got him safely away from the crowd, Merrick showed it to them and Treves was sent for. He took Merrick to the London Hospital where, after a short stay, it was determined that he should live out his life there in comfort and safety.
It is truly a touching first-hand account of Mr. Merrick - what a gentle person he was, how fond he was of conversation, how he fell in love with just about any woman he saw because, being so ugly and ill-treated all his life, he tended to put them on pedestals in his imagination. Treves tells of the time it took before Merrick realized that, no, he wasn't going to be taken away somewhere else - as he was accustomed to all his life - and that the London Hospital was his home for life. He relates Merrick's wonder and delight at the entire world around him and, in the end, Treves tells of Merrick's death as he attempted to sleep lying down in a "desire to be 'like other people'".
The other eleven essays are no less well-written and fascinating and give the reader a glimpse into various medical topics and controversies of the time. They range from the tale, "The Idol With Hands of Clay", the story of a doctor who arrogantly thought of himself as a surgeon when he wasn't, with tragic consequences, to "The Old Receiving Room", a tale of a cold, harsh place where patients were received at a great accident hospital in east London. The room is described with such bluntness that one understands instantly why the poor hated and mistrusted hospitals and doctors. Instead of seeing them as sources of healing and help, they often turned out to be places where a loved one went in, but never came out - at least, alive.
This book is well worth reading and Treves' engaging, unpretentious prose is as enjoyable as a warm fireside chat with a doctor friend who's telling you about his working day. "The Elephant Man" might entice you to read the book initially, but if you allow it, that essay will lead you into the other eleven and you won't regret a minute spent with the good doctor.
Of course, his first essay concerns Merrick, and David Lynch took much of the factual material for his film from Treves' writings. He details how he met Merrick and how, after an examination by Treves, Merrick vanished, as the showman who was displaying him was run out of town by the police. Treves assumed he wouldn't see him again.
However, Merrick did return (after being taken on a tour by his showman/handler, who was again shut down by local authorities in both Brussels and Belgium, and who released Merrick to fend for himself.) Merrick, upon his arrival at the London train station, was mobbed by a curious and jeering crowd and was consequently frightened to death. Luckily, he had retained the card given to him by Treves after the doctor had examined him previously. After some kind policemen got him safely away from the crowd, Merrick showed it to them and Treves was sent for. He took Merrick to the London Hospital where, after a short stay, it was determined that he should live out his life there in comfort and safety.
It is truly a touching first-hand account of Mr. Merrick - what a gentle person he was, how fond he was of conversation, how he fell in love with just about any woman he saw because, being so ugly and ill-treated all his life, he tended to put them on pedestals in his imagination. Treves tells of the time it took before Merrick realized that, no, he wasn't going to be taken away somewhere else - as he was accustomed to all his life - and that the London Hospital was his home for life. He relates Merrick's wonder and delight at the entire world around him and, in the end, Treves tells of Merrick's death as he attempted to sleep lying down in a "desire to be 'like other people'".
The other eleven essays are no less well-written and fascinating and give the reader a glimpse into various medical topics and controversies of the time. They range from the tale, "The Idol With Hands of Clay", the story of a doctor who arrogantly thought of himself as a surgeon when he wasn't, with tragic consequences, to "The Old Receiving Room", a tale of a cold, harsh place where patients were received at a great accident hospital in east London. The room is described with such bluntness that one understands instantly why the poor hated and mistrusted hospitals and doctors. Instead of seeing them as sources of healing and help, they often turned out to be places where a loved one went in, but never came out - at least, alive.
This book is well worth reading and Treves' engaging, unpretentious prose is as enjoyable as a warm fireside chat with a doctor friend who's telling you about his working day. "The Elephant Man" might entice you to read the book initially, but if you allow it, that essay will lead you into the other eleven and you won't regret a minute spent with the good doctor.
September 4, 2016
Often, the imagery conjured up by Victorian/Edwardian era writing is dark, gritty and stuffy. Especially when said stories take place in London, England, during the days when Joseph Merrik roamed the streets, Dickinsonian villains and heroes of Homlsian proportions made their way through the smog filled, gas-lit streets. The London of Frederick Treeves description, though, is none of those things. The tales the surgeon weaves, memories spun forth from a life well lived, are vibrant and full of warmth. To hear him speak of the strength of womenkind as they face the grave uncertainty of the knife, wry tales of mistaken hats and the madding crowd who paraded through his well-kept rooms, it ties you to the very human charges that were his daily life.
Yes, The Elephant Man will always be the focus of Treeve's known history, but his was a life of fantastic variation and, fortunately for us, we are offered a small glimpse of it. In the man's own words, no less! Such a wonderful read, thoroughly enjoyed.
Yes, The Elephant Man will always be the focus of Treeve's known history, but his was a life of fantastic variation and, fortunately for us, we are offered a small glimpse of it. In the man's own words, no less! Such a wonderful read, thoroughly enjoyed.
July 24, 2011
Sir Frederick Treves (1853-1923) was 'serjeant-surgeon'(sic) to King Edward VII and was apparently a skilled and compassionate physician who gave Joseph Merrick(the Elephant Man)his dignity back and a sense of belonging in his final days. The account is told in a matter of fact way that becomes quite moving. The good doctor also wrote novels and in these reminiscences he reminds me of H.P. Lovecraft in the tale of "The Restless Night" and a little bit of P.G. Wodehouse in "A Question Of Hats". The writing style is a bit dated but pleasantly so and all in all I enjoyed it.
July 24, 2011
I read this because of a recent PBS special on the re-creation of the elephant man using his actual bones. Dr. Frederic Treves was quoted in the PBS special. I enjoyed the surgical stories and the way the doctor told the stories of his most memorable patients.
September 19, 2021
Treves pone una narrazione eccelsa del suo incontro con john merrick e della vita difficile di questo uomo. il racconto di un clinico da un inestimabile valore umano che sa colpire il lato più sensibile ed emotivo persino di una mente puramente razionale.
September 30, 2011
My Fave Version!!!!
June 16, 2024
David Lynch sent me here. After seeing in the credits of his 1980 film “The Elephant Man” that its screenplay was adapted from a book by the physician who features prominently in the movie, I bought the book and set off reading it straight away. The first chapter of Dr. Frederick Treves’s book of essays details his experience with Joseph Merrick. Merrick, an Englishman who was about 20 years old when Treves met him, was born with severe physical deformities and had been abused for years in the late 1800s as a sideshow freak called “the Elephant Man.” As I read the chapter, I decided that David Lynch’s movie was right on the money. Sure, the film fiddled with the timeline, invented some scenarios, and exaggerated things a bit, but it also perfectly captured the feelings of a man who possessed a beautiful soul but had never had anyone to share it with. Merrick’s life was like if “Frankenstein” was a true story. Dr. Treves housed Merrick in his hospital and showed him kindness he had likely never encountered in his life. Treves seems like a good man, but he writes in a matter-of-fact way that sometimes feels patronizing toward Merrick. I think that’s likely a symptom of his era. The story Treves shares about Merrick is heartbreaking. Anyone with a semblance of empathy can imagine it clearly. And though Treves isn’t a poet, he writes well enough for a doctor (he was also a professor). But the story of the Elephant Man only takes up 20% of the book. Treves goes on to tell more stories from throughout his professional career. One thing that shocked me was the Victorian doctor’s gruesome depictions of injured patients. He certainly doesn’t hold back when describing the horrors he had seen. I appreciated that, because I had expected more innuendo and less directness. In one chapter, Treves hands the typewriter over to a woman who considers herself a neurotic. This was the second-best story in the book. Freud had already explained that “weak nerves” were actually more likely to be a mental disorder, but society remained doubtful. This woman’s first-person account gives a lot of insight about what people meant when they talked about “nervous” women (it sounds like what she was describing was a crippling case of social anxiety and/or depression). She describes her disbelieving husband’s cruelness toward her in a way that feels much more modern. I’m surprised she’d write so honestly, in case her husband would see it and punish her like husbands did a century ago. When the woman describes her experience in a nursing home for nervous patients (and especially a story about hearing an operation happening in the room above her) it’s as thrilling and tense as an Edgar Allan Poe story (his narrators tended to be nervous, too). That was a memorable moment in the book. To be honest, I only bought the book to learn more about Joseph Merrick. The fact that other stories were almost as interesting came as a surprise to me. The book is front-loaded, though. I felt the stories get less interesting as they went on. But still, it was fascinating to learn about the medical profession around the turn of the century.
6/10
6/10
November 22, 2020
A Missed Opportunity
I bought the paperback edition of this book back in 1980 after seeing the David Lynch film, but I doubt that I read any further than the "reminiscence" of Dr. Treves' association with Joseph (John) Merrick. After reading this brief report one can see where the film derived many of its scenes but embellished the story somewhat without becoming ridiculous. The moment when Merrick goes to the theatre is a true event. It is unfortunate that this piece is both detailed and very superficial. Dr. Treves must have been aware that this was a very special case he was involved with and his published work would be read long afterwards. As Merrick was reticent about talking about his early life Treves could only speculate about how this condition effected his life, but could draw no actual facts from him. Regardless he could have given more details about the spent with Merrick, discovering that far from being an idiot he was quite intelligent and, once overcoming his shyness, was well spoken, although the deformation of his mouth made difficult to speak or be understood. But once removed from his life as a side show freak attraction, fed properly, and treated like a human being he began to change for the better. I cringed every time Treves referred to Merrick as a "creature", even after realising that underneath the unspeakable deformities the encumbered ninety percent of his body his was good soul who did not feel bitterness towards his fellow human beings despite how he was treated. I don't know much about Frederick Treves or the extent of his medical training. But this all too brief report seems like an inadequate summary of an extraordinary person and deserved more. As for the other "reminiscences" contained in this book only the second one following the one on Joseph Merrick is worth reading. For fans of the 1980 film will see how it relates to the Merrick story. It is very gruesome given the time period in which it was written and describes the working conditions he, and other doctors, had to endure at the time and the horrific injuries of patients. It is not for the weak of stomach. The rest of the pieces are forgettable. They left absolutely no impression on me and seemed to have no point or purpose. Perhaps they were written in order to fill out a book. As soon as I finish the chapter it literally evaporated from my memory after mere seconds finishing them. But I do recommend reading those first two pieces for their historical importance. It is a missed opportunity to get deeper inside the evolution of a man who lived in state of degradation and , for a brief period, was allowed to live as normal a life as possible. It is both deeply moving and deeply inspirational.
I bought the paperback edition of this book back in 1980 after seeing the David Lynch film, but I doubt that I read any further than the "reminiscence" of Dr. Treves' association with Joseph (John) Merrick. After reading this brief report one can see where the film derived many of its scenes but embellished the story somewhat without becoming ridiculous. The moment when Merrick goes to the theatre is a true event. It is unfortunate that this piece is both detailed and very superficial. Dr. Treves must have been aware that this was a very special case he was involved with and his published work would be read long afterwards. As Merrick was reticent about talking about his early life Treves could only speculate about how this condition effected his life, but could draw no actual facts from him. Regardless he could have given more details about the spent with Merrick, discovering that far from being an idiot he was quite intelligent and, once overcoming his shyness, was well spoken, although the deformation of his mouth made difficult to speak or be understood. But once removed from his life as a side show freak attraction, fed properly, and treated like a human being he began to change for the better. I cringed every time Treves referred to Merrick as a "creature", even after realising that underneath the unspeakable deformities the encumbered ninety percent of his body his was good soul who did not feel bitterness towards his fellow human beings despite how he was treated. I don't know much about Frederick Treves or the extent of his medical training. But this all too brief report seems like an inadequate summary of an extraordinary person and deserved more. As for the other "reminiscences" contained in this book only the second one following the one on Joseph Merrick is worth reading. For fans of the 1980 film will see how it relates to the Merrick story. It is very gruesome given the time period in which it was written and describes the working conditions he, and other doctors, had to endure at the time and the horrific injuries of patients. It is not for the weak of stomach. The rest of the pieces are forgettable. They left absolutely no impression on me and seemed to have no point or purpose. Perhaps they were written in order to fill out a book. As soon as I finish the chapter it literally evaporated from my memory after mere seconds finishing them. But I do recommend reading those first two pieces for their historical importance. It is a missed opportunity to get deeper inside the evolution of a man who lived in state of degradation and , for a brief period, was allowed to live as normal a life as possible. It is both deeply moving and deeply inspirational.
May 15, 2025
Frederick Treves non offre un resoconto del tutto obiettivo del caso clinico di Joseph Merrick: alcune delle sue affermazioni risultano infondate, anche se va ricordato che stiamo parlando di un medico della seconda metà dell’800, il che rende certe imprecisioni comprensibili. Tuttavia, dalle sue parole emerge con forza la sofferenza umana nella sua forma più tragica, accompagnata da una passione e da un’attenzione verso il prossimo – in questo caso “l’uomo elefante”, Joseph Merrick – che sfiorano quasi l’ossessione. Il libro è breve e si legge in poco più di un’ora. Consiglio caldamente la lettura, sia per il valore storico che per la profonda umanità che traspare da queste pagine.
"Mi ero fatto l'idea che Merrick fosse imbecille, e lo fosse dalla nascita. Era una supposizione fondata su quel volto privo di espressione, su quelle parole biascicate, su quell'atteggiamento che lasciava intravedere una mente incapace di emozioni o di pensieri. In realtà, che quella mente fosse vuota quanto immaginavo era, prima che una convinzione, una speranza. L'idea che quell'essere capisse la sua situazione era inaccettabile".
"Mi ero fatto l'idea che Merrick fosse imbecille, e lo fosse dalla nascita. Era una supposizione fondata su quel volto privo di espressione, su quelle parole biascicate, su quell'atteggiamento che lasciava intravedere una mente incapace di emozioni o di pensieri. In realtà, che quella mente fosse vuota quanto immaginavo era, prima che una convinzione, una speranza. L'idea che quell'essere capisse la sua situazione era inaccettabile".
August 31, 2025
First of all, I have to say that the first chapter doesn’t seem to be written by Joseph’s friend, it seems like the doctor Treves saw Joseph as an experiment or likely as an specimen needed to be studied. But due to the times, it is also understandable he used certain language that at the end of the day, most of civilians were referring to Joseph, and it was a book needed to be sold, this is also demonstrated when you read the title and “the elephant man” was only one chapter out of 12.
But my favorite chapter wasn’t that one. “Two women” is esencially the most significant over time because it shows how the doctor gave women the gain of being more logical than men and certainly more brave than them, at least in the way they treat sickness and death. The author seems to be quiet observant, giving this description to women and allowing other male readers to question it in those years.
Another specially resonant with me personally was, The idol with hands of Clay, exploring how to be a good surgeon and allowing yourself not to be perfectly academic but imperfect to have more experiences to learn from.
But my favorite chapter wasn’t that one. “Two women” is esencially the most significant over time because it shows how the doctor gave women the gain of being more logical than men and certainly more brave than them, at least in the way they treat sickness and death. The author seems to be quiet observant, giving this description to women and allowing other male readers to question it in those years.
Another specially resonant with me personally was, The idol with hands of Clay, exploring how to be a good surgeon and allowing yourself not to be perfectly academic but imperfect to have more experiences to learn from.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2025
L’uomo elefante di Frederick Treves è un libriccino che si legge in poco tempo, ma lascia il segno. Sapevo chi fosse Joseph Merrick grazie al cinema, ma incontrarlo attraverso le parole del medico che lo ha conosciuto davvero è stata un’esperienza diversa, più intima.
All’inizio Treves scrive con il distacco del medico: descrive le deformità, la curiosità morbosa della gente e la durezza dell’epoca. Ma man mano il suo sguardo cambia:da “fenomeno da baraccone” Merrick diventa una persona sensibile, intelligente, capace di suscitare rispetto e affetto.
Il libro colpisce proprio per questa trasformazione: il mostro diventa uomo, il caso clinico diventa un amico. Eppure, rimane la sensazione di incompletezza: Merrick parla troppo poco in prima persona, avrei voluto conoscerlo più a fondo.
La lettura è intensa, commovente e fa riflettere sul modo in cui giudichiamo gli altri, anche se resta il desiderio di avere più spazio per la sua voce.
All’inizio Treves scrive con il distacco del medico: descrive le deformità, la curiosità morbosa della gente e la durezza dell’epoca. Ma man mano il suo sguardo cambia:da “fenomeno da baraccone” Merrick diventa una persona sensibile, intelligente, capace di suscitare rispetto e affetto.
Il libro colpisce proprio per questa trasformazione: il mostro diventa uomo, il caso clinico diventa un amico. Eppure, rimane la sensazione di incompletezza: Merrick parla troppo poco in prima persona, avrei voluto conoscerlo più a fondo.
La lettura è intensa, commovente e fa riflettere sul modo in cui giudichiamo gli altri, anche se resta il desiderio di avere più spazio per la sua voce.
October 12, 2021
Mixed bag this. Having seen the film, it being quite brilliant, I wanted to know more about this poor man and I found a copy on ebay.
The Elephant Man portion of the book is actually only 27 pages out of 126 (in the edition I have) and from what I remember of the film, is nearly identical, so kudos to the filmmakers not changing it. And It was interesting to read this first hand account.
This leaves the other portion of the book which is not what I was looking for and also did little to win me over. These stories bored me actually, to the point I skipped through the last 20-30 pages.
If you know the movie, you know the story, that's enough. It's probably not worth your time to seek this book out.
It took me almost 2 years to get through this short book, if that's saying something.
The Elephant Man portion of the book is actually only 27 pages out of 126 (in the edition I have) and from what I remember of the film, is nearly identical, so kudos to the filmmakers not changing it. And It was interesting to read this first hand account.
This leaves the other portion of the book which is not what I was looking for and also did little to win me over. These stories bored me actually, to the point I skipped through the last 20-30 pages.
If you know the movie, you know the story, that's enough. It's probably not worth your time to seek this book out.
It took me almost 2 years to get through this short book, if that's saying something.
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