A Literary Curiosity

Dublin Core

Title

A Literary Curiosity

Subject

Speculation about biography of Julia Pastrana

Description

Column about publications in 1854 and 1855 with implicit critique of texts written by Americans. Rumors that Julia Pastrana is writing an autobiography that includes details about her father's rough behavior.

Source

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times with Index

Publisher

The New York Daily Times

Date

1855-02-01

Rights

Copyright New York Times Company Feb 1, 1855.

Relation

IsFormatOf New York Daily Times

Format

pdf

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

ProQuest Document ID: 95852434

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

A Literary Curiosity
Several literary productions mark the year 1854 as one never to be forgotten when a future edition of the Curiosities of Literature is issued. Barnum’s Autobiography and Wikoff’s Courtship—if nothing else had ever occurred to have read, as put by some inquisitive Enlgishman, “Who reads an American book?”—would answer the querist satisfactorily;--everybody reads these American books and laughs at or pities their authors. But rumors are current that 1855 is to be honored with more books of the same sort; and the literary circles are all agape to know their truth. On dit, that another autobiography is coming,--that JULIA PASTRANA, the Bear Woman,” has arranged with an enterprising publisher for the true story of her life as she understands it. She has a large stock of anecdotes of her father, who was a rough, hirsute old fellow, who, when in Wall-street was alwas [sic] “speculating for a fall,” and once by way of a practical joke hugged a man to death. One would suspect the fair autobiographer of “drawing the long bow” in the chapter that treats of her courtship, but it seems she was once esteemed rather good looking, The patentees of the “hair regerators” are on the qui vive,--for it is said that one chapter is devoted to the ways and means of securing a peach-like down upon the skin, and that the secret of the success of the Bearded Lady is laid bare. Early copies of the work have been ordered for publishers abroad, and the Pig-tail, who sells soap and cigars on the corner of Beekman and Park-row, is said to devote all his evenings to a translation of it into the Chinese. It is to be dramatized by a popular play-wright and will be brought out at the National and Metropolitan Theatres. We are not able to affirm the truth of these rumors—we give them for what they are worth.”

Original Format

Newspaper

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Citation

“A Literary Curiosity,” Julia Pastrana Online, accessed March 28, 2024, https://juliapastranaonline.com/items/show/2.

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