Barnum's Own Story: The Autobiography of P.T. Barnum, combined & condensed from the various editions published during his lifetime

New York: The Viking Press. Good. 1927. First Edition. Hardcover. (no dust jacket) [worn copy, spine turned; binding intact; spine lettering darkened almost to the point of unreadability, large custom bookplate of playwright Alden Nash on front endpaper]. (B&W frontispiece portrait + 5 B&W plates) The extended title pretty much tells it all, and an "Editor's Note" details the various versions of his life published by Barnum between 1855 and 1888, summing up thus: "The present volume is a composite reprint of the 1855 'Life' and the various editions of 'Struggles and Triumphs' published from 1869 to 1888. The chief aim has been to present Barnum's own story as he himself first set it down, without regard to the qualms and tremors of respectability which gradually overcame to franker side of his nature. At the same time, the book has been subjected to a vigorous process of condensation, by the omission of many irrelevant or trivial anecdotes, public speeches, letters, laudatory press comments, and other extraneous matter which clutters up the original." NOTE that this book is different from the much more common Harcourt book "Here Comes Barnum: P.T. Barnum's Own Story," published five years later; for one thing, it's nearly 25% longer (452 pages as opposed to 368). ****NOTE that additional postage charges will be assessed for international shipping of this slightly heavy volume; if this concerns you, please contact us for a shipping quote before placing your order. As always at ReadInk, domestic Media Mail shipping is free.**** .