The Odditorium: The tricksters, eccentrics, deviants and inventors whose obsessions changed the world - Softcover

Bramwell, David; Tinsley, Jo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1473641497 ISBN 13: 9781473641495

Publisher: Chambers, 2017

Synopsis

'I WAS SO BEWITCHED, BEGUILED AND TAKEN IN UNDER YOUR SPELL WITH THIS NEW BOOK' Chris Evans, Radio 2 Breakfast Show 'This book, that I approached with caution, turns out to be magnificent. Tested it with the Moondog entry. Passed A+' Danny Baker, Radio 5Live A CELEBRATION OF CURIOSITY AND OBSESSION Step into a world of gloriously unpredictable characters such as Ivor Cutler, Quentin Crisp, Joe Orton, Reginald Bray, Ken Campbell, Screaming Lord Sutch, Sun Ra, Buckminster Fuller, Timothy Leary and Ayn Rand. THE ODDITORIUM is a playful re-telling of history, told not through the lens of its victors, but through the fascinating stories of a wealth of individuals who, while lesser-known, are no less remarkable. Throughout its pages you'll learn about the antics and adventures of tricksters, eccentrics, deviants and inventors. While their stories range from heroic failures to great hoaxes, one thing unites them - they all carved their own path through life. Each protagonist exemplifies the human spirit through their dogged determination, willingness to take risks, their unflinching obsession and, often, a good dollop of eccentricity. Learn about Reginald Bray (1879-1939), a Victorian accountant who sent over 30,000 singular objects through the mail, including himself; Muriel Howorth (1886-1971), the housewife who grew giant peanuts using atomic energy; and Elaine Morgan (1920-2013), a journalist who battled a tirade of prejudice to pursue an aquatic-based theory of human evolution, which is today being championed by David Attenborough. While many of us are content to lead a conventional life, with all of its comfort and security, THE ODDITORIUM reminds us of the characters who felt compelled to carve their own path, despite risking ostracism, failure, ridicule and madness. Outsider artists, linguists, scientists, time travellers and architects all feature in THE ODDITORIUM, each of whom risked ostracism, ridicule and even madness in pursuit of carving their own esoteric path, changing the world in wonderful ways. 'BRAMWELL CLEARLY HAS AN EYE FOR THE ODDBALL AND ARCANE' The Guardian

About this title

Review:

Praise for David Bramwell:
-Bramwell clearly has an eye for the oddball and arcane.- (The Guardian).--The Guardian

Praise for David Bramwell:
-A remarkable storyteller.- (Radio Times).--Radio Times

Praise for The No9 Bus to Utopia, by David Bramwell:

"Packed with wisdom, humour and pathos." Tom Hodgkinson, Idler--Idler

Praise for David Bramwell:

"Bramwell clearly has an eye for the oddball and arcane." (The Guardian).--The Guardian

Praise for David Bramwell:

"A remarkable storyteller." (Radio Times).--Radio Times

Book Description:

'I WAS SO BEWITCHED, BEGUILED AND TAKEN IN UNDER YOUR SPELL WITH THIS NEW BOOK' Chris Evans, Radio 2 Breakfast Show

The Odditorium is a fascinating, quirky and beautifully illustrated gift book from the creators of the award winning Ernest Journal.

About this edition

• Publisher: Chambers
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1473641497
• ISBN 13: 9781473641495
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256