Chang And Eng

Darin Strauss’ first novel, about the “Siamese Twins”, Chang & Eng. Joined at the chest, they emigrated to America, acquired a fairly great level of fame in their lifetime, married sisters, fathered 21 children, and worked successfully as farmers in North Carolina during the period of the American Civil War. Strauss is quick to point out that he considers this a work of fiction as the true nature of the brothers’ lives was mythologized even in their time, but the entire work is suffused with historical truth to the point that one feels that any speculation by Strauss is probably closer to the truth than not.