THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB

Thirty-two-inch tall Mercy Lavinia "Vinnie" Bump may have been little in terms of stature, but her ambition was seemingly boundless. Narrator Kim Mai Guest's small voice is fitting for this diminutive nineteenth-century celebrity who capitalized on her size by employing her intelligence, drive, and calculating disposition to become a famous performer in P.T. Barnum's shows. Vinnie's personality characteristics are apparent in Guest's performance as she imparts a precise eloquence and a slight haughtiness to Vinnie's speech. Guest also captures P.T. Barnum’s business acumen and "General” Tom Thumb’s well-meaning but dim character. This fictionalized autobiography employs snippets of historical headlines, which Guest trumpets in an old-fashioned style. S.E.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2011]