Inseparable: The Original Siamese Twins and Their Rendezvous with American History

Twins Chang and Eng Bunker, conjoined at the sternum and fused liver, were "discovered" in Siam by a British merchant in 1824 and arrived in Boston in 1829. Yunte Huang's biography explores their rise from freak-show celebrities to rich southern gentry, marriage to two white sisters, and ownership of slaves, revealing America's historical penchant for finding feast in the abnormal and tyrannizing the "other."

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 03 May 2018
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Twins Chang and Eng Bunker, born in 1811 and passing away in 1874, were a remarkable pair who were conjoined at the sternum by a band of cartilage and a fused liver. Their unique condition was "discovered" in Siam by a British merchant in 1824. Yunte Huang's artwork portrays the twins arriving in Boston in 1829, initially as museum exhibits but later evolving into financially successful showmen.

This captivating biography delves beyond the sensational aspects of their lives to explore their remarkable journey. It traces their ascent from being freak-show celebrities to becoming wealthy southern gentry. The twins married two white sisters, resulting in a total of twenty-one children. Furthermore, they owned slaves, which is not merely a sensational account but rather an excavation of America's historical penchant for reveling in the abnormal, exerting dominance over the "other," and ultimately becoming inseparable from American history itself.

Huang's artwork provides a visual representation of the twins' lives, capturing their unique appearance and the societal attitudes towards them during their time. The biography sheds light on the complexities of their relationship, as well as the challenges they faced as a result of their condition. It also highlights their remarkable resilience and determination in navigating a society that often treated them as objects of curiosity and amusement.

Twins Chang and Eng Bunker's story is a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity and thrive in challenging circumstances. Their lives serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy, understanding, and acceptance, and of the enduring legacy of their extraordinary existence in American history.

Weight: 734g
Dimension: 167 x 244 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780871404473