The Horrific Reality Of Working At a Victorian Freakshow | Tom Thumb | World History

The mid-19th century saw the rise of celebrities, epitomized by figures like General Tom Thumb, a little person standing at just 25 inches tall. Charles Stratton was just 4-years-old when his parents sold him to Barnum for just a few dollars and put up in Barnum's hall of curiosities as one of his 'respectable freaks'. His comic timing and natural charisma led Barnum to rebrand Charles as General Tom Thumb, gaining fame through strategic marketing and endorsements, even meeting Queen Victoria. Tom Thumb received worldwide fame, but the question remains of whether his story is one of success for unusual reasons, or a sad tale of a child being exploited for money by a greedy circus owner.