In this lively Christmas tale, Toby Magsman, a fairground showman, turns a rented house into a riot of painted canvases, barrel-organs, and comic attractions. At its center is Chops, a tiny dwarf performer whose vanity, innocence, and yearning for respect make him both ridiculous and strangely touching. He earns his living as a public curiosity, yet dreams of property, status, and "Society," exposing the gap between spectacle and private ambition. When Chops unexpectedly wins a fortune in the lottery, his life changes overnight. The windfall brings out his impulsive generosity and grand imagination, as he sets out to remake himself and claim a place among respectable people. With the help of a flamboyant companion, he tries to buy dignity, companionship, and social standing, only to reveal the comedy and fragility of such aspirations. Blending wit, satire, and warmth, the story offers a sharp look at class, performance, and the human desire to be seen as more than a spectacle, while also capturing the charm and absurdity of entering society and learning its rules. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.
