Synopses & Reviews
Bob Langmuir is an obsessive dealer with a remarkable eye for treasure who makes the discovery of a lifetime when he chances upon a trove of never-before-seen prints by the legendary Diane Arbus. From the moment he purchases a trunk containing the archive of Huberts Dime Museum and Flea Circusa midcentury Times Square freak show frequented by Arbusand discovers some intriguing photographs, he knows hes on to something. Furthermore, he begins to suspect that what hes found may add a pivotal chapter to what is now known about Arbus and the old weird America,” in Greil Marcuss phrase, that Huberts inhabited.
Langmuirs ensuing adventure, filled with bizarre coincidences, turns into a roller-coaster ride that takes him from memorabilia shows to the curators office at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Will the photos be authenticated? How will the Arbus estate react? most important, can Bob, who has seen more than a few promising deals head south, finally make his one big score?
Review
PRAISE FOR HUBERT'S FREAKSGibson has written a panoramic story that takes in sideshow culture, Diane Arbus, African American social history, the image market as it ranges from foreclosure sales to Chelsea galleries, and much more. Its principal focus, however, is one mans lifehis dreams and ambitions and delusions and dashed hopesand that is what makes the book uncommonly moving, utterly engrossing.”Luc Sante
Huberts Freaks will fascinate those among us who are stimulated by the richness and variety of American subcultures. I devoured it.” Larry McMurtry
Review
"
Hubert's Freaks is a page-turner, charged with anecdotes about junk-shop hustlers and eccentric collectors."--
Time Out New York (four stars)
"[A] tale of remarkable suspense."--Los Angeles Times
Synopsis
From the moment Bob Langmuir, a down-and-out rare book dealer, spies some intriguing photographs in the archive of a midcentury Times Square freak show, he knows he's on to something. It turns out he's made the find of a lifetime--never-before-seen prints by the legendary Diane Arbus. Furthermore, he begins to suspect that what he's found may add a pivotal chapter to what is now known about Arbus as well as about the "old weird America," in Greil Marcus's phrase, that Hubert's inhabited.
Bob's ensuing adventure--a roller-coaster ride filled with bizarre characters and coincidences--takes him from the fringes of the rare book business to Sotheby's, and from the exhibits of a run-down Times Square freak show to the curator's office of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Will the photos be authenticated? How will Arbus's notoriously protective daughter react? Most importantly, can Bob, who always manages to screw up his most promising deals, finally make just one big score?
About the Author
GREGORY GIBSON is the author of the critically acclaimed Gone Boy: A Walkabout and Demon of the Waters: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Whaleship Globe. An antiquarian-book dealer, he lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Table of Contents
Contents
Preface The Man in Blue x
Part one An American Palindrome
Sunday, Monday, and Charlie 7
The Old Roman Gardens 12
Deeyan and Allan 17
What More Can You Ask For? 22
Early Bob 32
Life in the Colonies 40
Bob: The Middle Years 43
Simoom in the Sahara 47
Diane and John 53
Jan, Meg, Ernie, and Mom 59
Miss McRae 64
The Final Act 67
Black History 71
The Collectors 75
Out of Africa 81
Feeding the Rat 87
The Buy 92
The Finer Sort 98
Flying Fur 104
Down the Rabbit Hole 110
The Grind 118
A Crack in the Mystical Vessel 129
Bob and Woogie 134
Deconstructing the Palindrome 138
Part two New Bob
The Kiss and the Curse 145
Paper Pajamas 151
Off the Couch and into the Frying Pan 156
Yes!!! Fantastic!!! And Fascinating !!! 162
Robert Miller 168
A Sharks Lunch 174
Consummatum est 185
The Magic Cloud 191
Bob and Steve 196
Other Faces 202
Woogies Boxes 207
The Old, Weird Bob 222
The Bostocks of West Philadelphia 231
Deep Leo 233
In Which Bob Proves to Have Been More Stubborn than Jan Was Angry 236
Heisenberg Jr. 241
Untitled 246
Healing Waters 254
the sunset kid 257
And Thats Not All 262
Acknowledgments 265
Selected Bibliography 267