Jean Nohain (1900–1981)

It's tempting to create a separate bkshelf just for farting - maybe it wd include "A Confederacy of Dunces" b/c of the dyspeptic main character. Who wdn't be interested in a bio of a guy who made a living entertaining people by farting tunes? Well, some people wd find that too low-brow but they'd probably read USA Today so go figger. This is a thin bio but I'm sure getting info on the guy wasn't easy. There's even a 1998 documentary made about him by the very interesting Igor Vamos. I think Baltimore poet David Franks might've done something that references him too. The tune lingers on.… (más)

It is a great regret in the life that there are hundreds of biographies of Adolf Hitler but only one of the great Le Petomane, the famous French professional farter. Who amongst us would rather read a book about a monster who unleashed genocide compared to a man who could fart popular songs? And when given the choice to attend either an address by Hitler or a performance by Le Petomane at the Moulin Rouge, I for one would be in the audience at the Moulin Rouge, laughing along at the art Le Petomane could express from his nether regions.

It’s hard to recognise how popular Le Petomane was in late nineteenth century Paris; sold out shows had members of the audience in such laughter that nurses were in attendance to deal with those who collapsed from the strain of laughter. In this rather short book (95 pages in my edition) we get details of Le Petomane’s early life, including his discovery that he could use his backside to sing, and his slighter later related discovery that this talent could be put to good financial use. And, how could anyone not want to read a book which includes quotes like “You see, sir, my anus is of such elasticity that I can open and shut it at will.” And while I’m at it, and book that can link Pliny the Elder to perhaps the greatest of all farters is ace in my mind.… (más)