P.T. Barnum's Fame, the Fiji Mermaid Hoax, and General Tom Thumb

Greg Jenner is joined by historian Prof Benjamin Reiss and comedian Desiree Burch in 19th-century America to meet the self-proclaimed showman, P.T. Barnum. He was a man famous for his museums and shows as well as "curiosities" such as General Tom Thumb, Bearded Ladies and The Fiji Mermaid. But look beyond Barnum’s infamous spin and you’ll find that contrary to his pop culture image this showman was far from the greatest.

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Produced by Cornelius Mendez Script by Greg Jenner and Emma Nagouse Research by Charlotte Potter

A production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.