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Description edit
The Midget's House is a tale of two women (one alive, and the other long dead), each mourning lost love and struggling for control of the one place that feels like home.
Marisa Delano is thrilled when she unexpectedly inherits the fairy-tale like cottage on the bay—until she learns that... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
The Midget's House is a tale of two women (one alive, and the other long dead), each mourning lost love and struggling for control of the one place that feels like home. Marisa Delano is thrilled when she unexpectedly inherits the fairy tale-like cottage on the bay--until she ... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters edit
- Marisa Delano: A woman who recently moved into a beautiful cottage by the bay.
- Lucinda Lacey: A sideshow midget who died in the house in 1924.
- Cyrus Parker: The circus owner that Lucinda was in love with.
- Myrtle Applegate: Sarasota historian
- Mr. Samuel W. Gumpertz: Although fictionalized in The Midget's House, there was indeed a sideshow impresario in the early 20th century, named Samuel Gumpertz. He was an important figure in both Coney Island and Sarasota, Florida, sideshow and circus history.
- Charles Thompson: One of the many early 20th century circus owners who wintered in Sarasota.
- Marvin: Add a description of this character.
- Perry
- Murphy: Murphy the cat is the one real character in The Midget's House. In fact, he lives in the real midget house in Sarasota, Florida, where he did appear to have an encounter on the stairs with someone or something only he could see.
- Nettie
- Kingsley: An old lion
- Gerta: An elephant
- Kelly Gallagher: Marisa's best friend. The owner of the metaphysical store Gaia--loosely based on several similar stores in and around Sarasota.
- Steve
- Bud
- Roy
- Dietrich Paulsen: Marisa's ex-husband
- Jimmie
- Enid Parker: Cyrus Parker's daughter, and a distant relative of both Marisa and Otto.
- Leroy: Laborer in the Parker Circus and a WWI anti-war activist
- Michael Ricci: Sarasota police detective
- Fannie
- Nicholas Young
- Rena: Psychic who gives readings at Gaia
- Dapper Dan Brogan: Carnie
- Kumar: Snake handler
- Otto Hinkle
- Albert Lacey: Lucinda's older brother
- Hans Schmidt: Circus midget and clown
- Velasquez
- Casper: Owner of the ten-in-one show, Casper's Cavalcade of Living Curiosities
- Wanda: Showgirl in the Parker Circus
- Stephania: The bearded lady in the Parker Circus.
- Mario Delano: Marisa's father
- Timmy
- Harry Scanlon: Enid Parker's lawyer and former love interest of Marisa's mother
- Horace Vanderee: Snake Boy in Casper's Cavalcade of Living Curiosities
- George Corwood: Giant
- Zelenko
- Drago: Fire-eater
- Frank
- Agatha Simpson: Cyrus Parker's Sarasota maid
- Sharon: Otto's sister
- Jacob
- Mr. Zack
- Mr. Miller
- Ivan: Giant and Lucinda's closest friend
- Peter
- John Ringling: Although his appearance in The Midget's House is pure fiction, John Ringling was, of course, the youngest of the circus kings, the Ringling Brothers.
- John Guinness: Developer who wants to buy the midget's house
- Rebecca Bradley
- Ruben: Dwarf and clown in the Parker Circus
- Mrs. Cox
- Alberta Lacey-Pruitt: Also known as Birdie, a docent at the Ringling Museum
- Claude
- Nicolai
- Pattie
- Marisa … Enid
- Aunt Enid
- Mr. Vanderee
- Mr. Scanlon
- X. Marisa
- Ms. Delano
Quotes edit
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““It's strange, isn't it, how you never know you're living the best time of your life at the moment you're living it? If you could appreciate, at that instant, that this is it, maybe you'd make certain your mind imprinted every detail of the sights, smells, sounds and sensations.Then again, maybe knowing that life will only get duller, sadder, less hopeful afterward would inject melancholy into that moment. You'd miss life's peak experience by mourning it before it passes.So perhaps it's best not to know.””
Birdie
Setting & Locations edit
First Sentence edit
Marisa Delano turned her ancient white convertible west toward Indian Beach, an older section of Sarasota that had once been home to several of the circus kings.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Rising above prejudice and preconceptions: As I searched for clues to the real history of my mysterious home, the character of Lucinda the midget appeared in my subconscious and seemed almost dictate her story with little conscious interference from me. It wasn't until I'd written a great many chapters about her that I recognized that Lucinda is a metaphor for anyone who's been made to feel small and has risen above bias. Although Lucinda is a fictional character, I hope that she inspires others, who might be different in some way from what society considers the norm, to see themselves as the whole, beautiful, unique people they are.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Anita Bartholomew (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Bartholomew & Co, Inc
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 0983992207
Page Count: 292
Publisher: Bartholomew & Co, Inc
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 0983992207
Page Count: 292
Awards edit
- eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards (August 2012: Best Literary Novel, Runner Up)
Subjects edit
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