The incredible story of the three-legged man
Synopsis
Francesco Lentini was born with three legs, four feet, sixteen toes, and two genitals in late-19th-century Sicily, where his life seemed miserable and inevitably doomed to shame. Until, at the age of nine, an encounter with an impresario changed his life: Francesco became Frank and moved to the United States, where his "monstrosity" became a "wonder" for all the patrons of circuses, fairs, and freak shows. It was the beginning of an extraordinary career, which the author recounts through interviews, original documents, and research in American newspaper archives spanning the last 130 years. It is a story of immigration and redemption, but also of diversity, intertwined with the rise and fall of controversial shows featuring people with unusual appearances or physical disabilities. In the backdrop, between the big cities and the vast provinces, half a century of American history unfolds.
Reviews
Andrea Marassi
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, class 2B
I liked it because it tells an unusual story.
Veronica Barale
De Amicis High School in Cuneo, class 3G
"The Incredible Story of the Man with Three Legs" by Alberto Giuffrè tells the adventures of a unique protagonist, a man who, due to a congenital malformation, is born with three legs. His life is marked by challenges and discrimination, but also by extraordinary resilience. From a young age, he must confront the reactions of society, which regards him with curiosity and often ridicule.
Despite the difficulties, he manages to find his path: he becomes an artist and uses his diversity as a source of inspiration for his works. The story unfolds through a series of meaningful encounters with other characters who help him discover the value of his uniqueness.
I really enjoyed this book because it tackles a difficult topic with simple words, yet still conveys the message it wants to convey. I think it's a truly beautiful book to read, one that helps us understand how to turn difficulties into strengths.
Martino Tallone
De Amicis High School in Cuneo, class 3G
I really enjoyed Giuffré's "The Man with Three Legs" because it tackles the theme of diversity in an original way. The story is about a man with a third leg, which makes him different and isolates him. This surreal situation represents the difficulties of accepting and accepting others. I was struck by how Giuffré, with a strange plot, addresses profound issues such as the fear of diversity and social judgment. It's an interesting reflection on how we view what is "different.".
Peter Boschero
De Amicis High School, class 3G
The book tells the life story of Frank Lentini, a man born with three legs, focusing on his journey to America and his rise to fame through freak shows. The story unfolds from the early 1900s to the 1960s. The story is compelling, and the flowing writing makes it a pleasant read. I would recommend it for those who want to learn more about the history of freaks in the past and how modern society's perception of them has changed.
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