Download or read book The Lives of Dwarfs written by Betty M. Adelson and published by Rutgers University Press. This book was released on 2005 with total page 482 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The Lives of Dwarfs is extraordinary in its range and vision. Beautifully written. Totally absorbing."--Ursula Hegi, author of Stones from the River "As a little person, husband, and father of a little person, I dream of the day when dwarfs attain full acceptance in society. The Lives of Dwarfs provides a giant step in that direction."--Rick Spiegel, former president of Little People of America "This important book makes it possible for both average- and short-statured people to challenge our collective understanding of dwarfism as a synonym for diminishment or as an array of cute and evil fairy-tale figures. The libratory work of this book is to invite us all to reimagine dwarfism as a livable experience and tenable way of being in the world."--Rosemarie Garland Thomson, author of Extraordinary Bodies: Figuring Physical Disability in American Culture and Literature "A work of compassionate scholarship. A unique contribution to the literature of physical deformity and social isolation and a gift to the individuals whose personal struggle this is."--Linda Hunt, actor Historically, they have borne the labels "freaks" and "oddities"; they have been collected as pets, displayed as spectacles, and treated as comic relief. Now, for the first time, in this elegant and comprehensive volume, the lives of dwarfs are explored in all their fullness and humanity. Spanning the centuries from ancient Egypt to the present, this unique social history chronicles the various ways this population has been exploited, describes their strategies for coping, and notes the persistent influence of mythology upon perceptions of them by others. The narrative also highlights the lives of eminent individuals and contains a thought-provoking account of the representation and participation of dwarfs in the arts, enhanced by outstanding color photographs. Betty M. Adelson, the mother of a daughter with dwarfism, brings special insight and sensitivity to the research. She traces the widespread mistreatment of dwarfs over the centuries, engendered by their being viewed as curiosities rather than as human beings capable of the same accomplishments as people of average height, and deserving of the same pleasures. For much of their history, dwarfs have resorted to exhibiting themselves: because of social stigma no other employment was available. Only in recent years have short-statured individuals begun to challenge their position in society. Medical advances, new economic opportunities, and disability legislation have led to progress, mainly in Western nations. Advocacy groups have also formed in countries as diverse as Chile, South Korea, and Nigeria. Adelson compares what she refers to as the "small revolution" to similar social and cultural awakenings that women, African Americans, gays and lesbians, and persons with disabilities experienced when they identified themselves as a community with shared goals and obstacles. Written with passion, grace, and the dignity that the subject deserves, The Lives of Dwarfs will not only revolutionize current perceptions about the historically misrepresented dwarf population, but also offer pause for thought on issues of disability, medical treatment, height, beauty, and identity.
Download or read book Dwarfs Don t Live in Doll Houses written by Angela Muir Van Etten and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The author was born and raised in New Zealand where she qualified and practised law for five years. She discusses a wide range of issues such as mobility and access, education, employment and the prejudices that Little People face daily.
Download or read book The Kingdom of the Dwarfs written by Robb Walsh and published by IDW Publishing. This book was released on 2018-11-14 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A lavishly illustrated journey into the world of legend's most elusive people in the tradition of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. An extraordinary exploration of a remarkable civilization that will enchant and enthrall all who delve into its pages. A recently discovered archaeological find provides a wealth of knowledge on the heretofore unknown life and habits of Dwarfs in all their day-to-day activities. Close examination is provided of their lives in everything from metalworking technologies to constructing underground dwellings and tunnels. Additionally, insight is offered into the general hierarchy of the population, from lowly laborers to their kings and ruling class.
Download or read book Stones from the River written by Ursula Hegi and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-01-25 with total page 528 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the acclaimed author of Floating in My Mother’s Palm and Children and Fire, a stunning story about ordinary people living in extraordinary times—“epic, daring, magnificent, the product of a defining and mesmerizing vision” (Los Angeles Times). Trudi Montag is a Zwerg—a dwarf—short, undesirable, different, the voice of anyone who has ever tried to fit in. Eventually she learns that being different is a secret that all humans share—from her mother who flees into madness, to her friend Georg whose parents pretend he’s a girl, to the Jews Trudi harbors in her cellar. Ursula Hegi brings us a timeless and unforgettable story in Trudi and a small town, weaving together a profound tapestry of emotional power, humanity, and truth.
Download or read book Dwarfism written by Betty M. Adelson and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2005-06-27 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A great leap forward for the social and cultural condition of dwarfism." -- Andrew Solomon, Newsday This landmark volume is the first to trace the exciting developments in the field of dwarfism research and treatment over the past century -- particularly during the past fifty years. Dr. Betty M. Adelson, a psychologist, has unearthed and synthesized the most significant information about dwarfing conditions, from articles written a century ago to current books and specialized databases.
Download or read book The Dwarves written by Markus Heitz and published by Orbit. This book was released on 2009-11-03 with total page 483 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For countless millennia, the dwarves of the have defended the stone gateway into Girdlegard. Many and varied foes have hurled themselves against the portal and died attempting to breach it. No man or beast has ever succeeded. Until now. . . Abandoned as a child, Tungdil the blacksmith labors contentedly in the land of Ionandar, the only dwarf in a kingdom of men. Although he does not want for friends, Tungdil is very much aware that he is alone -- indeed, he has not so much as set eyes on another dwarf. But all that is about to change. Sent out into the world to deliver a message and reacquaint himself with his people, the young foundling finds himself thrust into a battle for which he has not been trained. Not only his own safety, but the life of every man, woman and child in Girdlegard depends upon his ability to embrace his heritage. Although he has many unanswered questions, Tungdil is certain of one thing: no matter where he was raised, he is a true dwarf. And no one has ever questioned the courage of the Dwarves.
Download or read book Grump The Fairly True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves written by Liesl Shurtliff and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers. This book was released on 2018-05-29 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the New York Times bestselling author of Rump, comes the true story behind another unlikely hero: a grumpy dwarf who gets tangled up in Snow White's feud with the wicked queen. Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind. At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . . When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He's bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He'll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that's enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed. "Liesl Shurtliff writes the perfect middle-grade page-turners that fourth graders can gobble down on the plane, train, and automobile trips ahead this summer. . . . [she] excels at turning familiar worlds on their heads. --The New York Times Book Review "Hilarious and heartfelt . . . Lovable Borlen's grumpy first-person narration explores themes of belonging, friendship, and doing the right thing. Sure to please fans of reimagined fairy tales." --Kirkus "A hilarious reimagining of its origin story with a wonderfully detailed world and interesting twists on classic characters. Sure to be a hit with fantasy fans looking for comedy." --Booklist "The story moves at a fast pace and deftly balances lighthearted humor with emotional weight. . . .a sure hit for Shurtliff's fans." --School Library Journal
Download or read book Dwarf written by Tiffanie DiDonato and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-11-27 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “It's okay with me if you picked up this book because you're curious about what it's like to live with dwarfism. But I hope that you'll take away much more—about adapting to the world when it won't adapt to you.”—from Dwarf A memoir of grit and transformation for anyone who has been told something was impossible and then went on to do it anyway. Tiffanie DiDonato was born with dwarfism. Her limbs were so short that she was not able to reach her own ears. She was also born with a serious case of optimism. She decided to undergo a series of painful bone-lengthening surgeries that gave her an unprecedented 14 inches of height—and the independence she never thought she’d have. After her surgeries, Tiffanie was able to learn to drive, to live in the dorms during college, and to lead a normal life. She even made time to volunteer, writing to troops stationed abroad, and one of those Marine pen pals ultimately became her husband. Dwarf is a moving and, at times, funny testament to the power of sheer determination, and has been compared to Andrew Solomon's Far From the Tree. Watch her Good Morning America segment: https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/dwarf-womans-story-undergoing-controversial-lengthening-surgeries/story?id=17841466
Download or read book A Little Me written by Amy Roloff and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2019-05-15 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the star of TLC’s hit reality show Little People BIG World comes a revelatory memoir that will inspire those who have long followed the Roloff’s and newcomers alike. “A Little Me by Amy Roloff is a feel-good, inspirational memoir about a remarkable woman who addresses challenges head-on with a positive outlook and deep faith.” – New York Journal of Books Whatever package you come in, life isn’t easier or harder than another’s because you are different physically. There may be more challenges, but still, everyone has challenges. “God doesn’t make mistakes.” For Amy Roloff, star of TLC’s hit reality show Little People, BIG World, her father’s words would repeatedly serve as an anchor, reminding her of her inherent worth and purpose, whenever feelings of insecurity and inadequacy surfaced and threatened to overwhelm her. In A Little Me, Amy shares what it was like growing up with achondroplasia dwarfism, how she struggled to overcome obstacles both physical and emotional—navigating the average-size world as a little person, dealing with a serious illness as a young girl, bullying, and issues of body image and unachievable beauty ideals—while learning, as we all must, to accept herself for who she is. Finally allowing herself to be vulnerable enough to open up to others, she learned that it’s worth risking possible rejection for a chance at genuine relationships. Amy’s memoir is an inspiring and at times heart-wrenching account of resilience and the strength of the human spirit to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Download or read book The Dwarfs written by Harold Pinter and published by Grove/Atlantic, Inc.. This book was released on 2015-01-27 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A fascinating work . . . possessing extraordinary power. Masterful.” —San Francisco Chronicle “Brilliant, cranky, and eccentric, and the narrative passages are some of the most thrilling ever written.” —Library Journal “Some of the author’s most enduring themes—notably, sexual jealousy and betrayal—are present. . . . The narration shows traces of writers as various as Joyce and Beckett, e.e. cummings and J.P. Donleavy.” —The Washington Post “The Abbott and Costello meet Samuel Beckett dialogue . . . makes you laugh out loud.” —The Village Voice
Download or read book The Fearless Benjamin Lay written by Marcus Rediker and published by Beacon Press. This book was released on 2017-09-05 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The little-known story of an eighteenth-century Quaker dwarf who fiercely attacked slavery and imagined a new, more humane way of life In The Fearless Benjamin Lay, renowned historian Marcus Rediker chronicles the transatlantic life and times of a singular man—a Quaker dwarf who demanded the total, unconditional emancipation of all enslaved Africans around the world. Mocked and scorned by his contemporaries, Lay was unflinching in his opposition to slavery, often performing colorful guerrilla theater to shame slave masters, insisting that human bondage violated the fundamental principles of Christianity. He drew on his ideals to create a revolutionary way of life, one that embodied the proclamation “no justice, no peace.” Lay was born in 1682 in Essex, England. His philosophies, employments, and places of residence—spanning England, Barbados, Philadelphia, and the open seas—were markedly diverse over the course of his life. He worked as a shepherd, glove maker, sailor, and bookseller. His worldview was an astonishing combination of Quakerism, vegetarianism, animal rights, opposition to the death penalty, and abolitionism. While in Abington, Philadelphia, Lay lived in a cave-like dwelling surrounded by a library of two hundred books, and it was in this unconventional abode where he penned a fiery and controversial book against bondage, which Benjamin Franklin published in 1738. Always in motion and ever confrontational, Lay maintained throughout his life a steadfast opposition to slavery and a fierce determination to make his fellow Quakers denounce it, which they finally began to do toward the end of his life. With passion and historical rigor, Rediker situates Lay as a man who fervently embodied the ideals of democracy and equality as he practiced a unique concoction of radicalism nearly three hundred years ago. Rediker resurrects this forceful and prescient visionary, who speaks to us across the ages and whose innovative approach to activism is a gift, transforming how we consider the past and how we might imagine the future.
Download or read book In Our Hearts We Were Giants written by Yehuda Koren and published by Hachette+ORM. This book was released on 2009-04-27 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this remarkable, never-before-told account of the Ovitz family, seven of whose ten members were dwarves, readers bear witness to the best and worst of humanity and to the terrible irony of the Ovitz's fate: being burdened with dwarfism helped them endure the Holocaust. Israeli authors Yehuda Koren and Eilat Negev weave the tale of a beloved and successful family of performers who were famous entertainers in Central Europe until the Nazis deported them to Auschwitz in May 1944. Descending into the hell of the concentration camp from the transport train, the Ovitz family—known widely as the Lilliput Troupe—was separated from other Jewish victims. Dr. Josef Mengele was notified of their arrival and they were assigned better quarters and provided more nutritious food than other inmates. The authors chronicle Mengele's experiments upon the Ovitz's, and the creepy fondness he developed for these small people, even the songs he composed and sang to this family of singers, dancers, and klezmorim. Finally liberated by Russian troops, the family returned to their deserted village in Transylvania, and eventually found their way to a new home in Israel. They resumed their careers, overcame their handicaps and became wealthy and successful performers.
Download or read book The Dwarf written by Cho Se-hŭi and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2006-08-31 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The dark side of South Korea’s "economic miracle" emerges in The Dwarf, Cho Se-hui’s enormously popular and critically acclaimed work. First published in 1978, it speaks to the painful social costs of reckless industrialization, even as it tellingly portrays the spiritual malaise of the newly rich and powerful and a working class subject to forces beyond its control. Cho’s lean, clipped, deceptively simple style, the rapidly shifting points of view, terse dialogue, and subtle irony evoke the particularities of life in 1970s South Korea in the presence of global economic forces. The desperate realities of life for the dwarf, the proverbial little guy upon whose back Korea’s economic transformation largely took place, are emotively rendered in twelve linked stories examining the lives of a laboring family, a family of the newly emerging middle class, and that of a wealthy industrialist. The stories have overlapping characters and situations: the murder of a swindler, a family’s eviction from a squatter settlement, the assassination of an important executive, the dwarf ’s fantasy of a planet where life is easier, his later suicide and the subsequent fate of his dispersed friends and family members.
Download or read book Little People written by and published by . This book was released on 2019-03-10 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Becky Kennedy was more than her parents had bargained for. Born a dwarf, her early medical problems nearly overwhelmed the family's resources. But as surely as she recovered and grew into a healthy little girl, Becky became more than Dan and Barbara Kennedy could have hoped for: not merely a miniature likeness of themselves, but a little person with such a unique perspective that she opened their eyes to a whole other world.In "Little People," Dan Kennedy confronts the deepest of parental fears: What if my child is different? His search for an answer provides a penetrating look at how our culture of diversity clashes with the reality of dis-ability and the belief that we have a right to the so-called perfect child.
Download or read book Thinking Big written by and published by Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books. This book was released on 1986 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Text and photographs depict the life of an eight-year-old dwarf who lives in an average-sized family and attends a regular school.
Download or read book Strong and Mighty Max written by Kristina Gray and published by Troubador Publishing Ltd. This book was released on 2018-07-24 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Strong and Mighty Max was written by a mother of a child who was born with achondroplasia. Achondroplasia is a rare condition affecting 1 in 25.000 births. Children born with the condition have shorter limbs and slightly larger head than their peers, and have normal intelligence. This beautifully illustrated book encourages children to celebrate that each one of us in unique and different in some way. The revised edition has guided educational activities for primary aged children. To discuss differences, disabilities and the importance of kindness. The new character Katy challenges the reader to think about the importance of education to understand differences.
Download or read book Giants written by Yehuda Koren and published by . This book was released on 2013-12-18 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this account of the Ovitz family, seven of whose ten members were dwarves, readers bear witness to the terrible irony of the Ovitzs' fate: being burdened with dwarfism helped them to endure the Holocaust. Through research and interviews with the youngest Ovitz daughter, Perla, the troupe's last surviving member, and other relatives, the authors weave the tale of a beloved and successful family of performers who were famous entertainers in Central Europe until the Nazis deported them to Auschwitz in May 1944.
