Autobiography of pet elephant man

The story of Joseph Carey Merrick began in , when he was born to Mary Jane and Joseph Merrick of Leicester, but the story of the Elephant Man did not start until several years later.

Joseph Merrick - Wikipedia

It was when he was a toddler that tumours first appeared on Merrick's body. They continued to grow and multiply throughout his short life, the result of what is now generally understood to be Proteus Syndrome. Without modern surgical treatment, the condition eventually became so severe that it made a normal life impossible. As the autobiographical pamphlet above states, Merrick found a means of supporting himself by joining travelling 'freak shows', displaying his deformity to the public under the stage name of The Elephant Man.

While touring, Merrick composed – albeit possibly with the help of an external writer – the above statement as part of a pamphlet to be distributed to crowds at each exhibition.

He later attained fame of a different sort through his relationship with Dr. Frederick Treves,