The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno ~ Ellen Bryson

The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno ~ Ellen Bryson

Medium soft cover 
Excellent condition

The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson is a richly imagined historical novel set in 1865 New York City, inside the eccentric world of P.T. Barnums American Museum. The story follows Bartholomew Fortuno, celebrated as the Worlds Thinnest Man, who views his extreme physique as a gift and a source of identity. After years of performing among Barnums cast of Curiosities, Fortunos sense of purpose begins to waver. His life takes a dramatic turn when a mysterious veiled woman arrives at the museum under Barnums personal escort. Tasked with uncovering her secrets, Fortuno is drawn into a web of intrigue, desire, and self-discovery.

As he navigates the museums hierarchy of performersranging from True Prodigies to Exoticshe begins to question the nature of spectacle, identity, and love. The novel blends romance, mystery, and psychological depth, exploring what it means to be truly unique and how far one will go to understand another. Against the backdrop of post-Civil War America and the mourning of President Lincoln, Bryson crafts a vivid narrative about transformation, both physical and emotional, within a society obsessed with appearances.