Books on Merrick

Quite a number of books have been written on Joseph Merrick, even though tragically, some authors still get the name wrong. It was 'Joseph' and NOT 'John'. Some books are serious in nature, while others... [sigh] ..... others make one grimace, just after reading a few pages.

Perhaps you would like to share your book preferences and tell us why they are so special, (or indeed, horrific), to you.

Joseph to John

In Frederick Treves's memoirs, written about Merrick and others, he wrote the name 'Joseph', and then crossed it out and replaced it with 'John'. Having such a close relationship with his patient, I find it strange that he should do this. There are different views why he did it, some say, because he wrote his memoirs many years later he simply FORGOT. However, I believe that would have made more sense had he written 'John' first and corrected it with 'Joseph'. Others say, it's because Treves wanted to give Joseph's family some anonymity. Perhaps that's so. My belief however, is that Treves had the most personal experience and knowledge of Joseph and, he felt by changing the name, he would somehow benefit from keeping the identity to himself. We'll never know Treves' intention for crossing out the proper name and replacing it with a fictitious one. Nevertheless, I'd be really interested to hear your take on this.

David Lynch's film, "the Elephant Man"

I first saw the film in about 1983 and have watched it numerous times since.  It was shot in monochrome, to add further impact and and better illustrate the poorest quarter of London in the 19th century. Whitechapel.  If you haven't yet seen it, I can wholeheartedly recommend it. Even though there are areas that stray from the truth, it is, nevertheless, a masterpiece of cinematography, in my opinion.  I look forward to your construction opinions. Not just on the film itself, but on the way Joseph is portrayed, and, especially, the depicted relationship between Frederick Treves and Joseph Merrick, (known in the film, as 'John'.