The Tattooed Lady: A History

Erika, fellow co-worker, and I will be sponsoring, hosting and doing a question and answer session for the event of the book release of "The Tattooed Lady: A History," by Amelia Osterud.  The event will be held this January 31, 2010 at Magers and Quinn Booksellers in uptown, at 5pm.  We will be representing not only tattooed ladies, but women of the tattoo industry.  The information is also listed on my website.  

The event information:

Today, almost a quarter of Americans now have tattoos. Yet there was a time--not very long ago at all--when tattoos were not at all acceptable in mainstream society. To be tattooed was to be an outcast and a freak. Many women found freedom in their decorations, traveling the country, performing nearly nude on carnival stages, making a living as "The Tattooed Lady."

The first book of its kind, The Tattooed Lady: A History uncovers the true stories behind these tattooed women of the circus sideshow, bringing them out of the sideshow and examining their working-class lives. These gutsy women spun amazing tall tales about abductions and forced tattooing at the hands of savages, but shared little of their real lives, and though they spawned a cultural acceptance of tattooing that we still see today, they have largely faded into history. Combining thorough research with more than a hundred historical photos, this lushly illustrated social history reveals tattoo origins, women’s history, and circus lore. The Tattooed Lady uncovers the remarkable women of the sideshow--many of whom were born and lived in the Midwest. 

Amelia Klem Osterud is a tattooed academic librarian from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has a Masters in history from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and writes and lectures on the subject. The Tattooed Lady is her first book. Visit her blog at www.tattooedladyhistory.vox.com.

She'll be reading at Magers & Quinn Booksellers (3038 Hennepin Ave S; 612/822-4611), Sunday, January 31, at 5:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. Amelia Oterud's appearance is co-sponsored by Live Fast Die Young Tattoos.