This is an uncanny, lyrical novel that follows the inner life of Miss M., a woman of unusually small stature whose physical difference sets her apart even as her mind and emotions burn with fierce sensitivity.
Through her reflective, often melancholic voice, the reader is drawn into a world where ordinary rooms become vast landscapes, and social encounters take on the weight of myth.
Walter de la Mare blends quiet psychological depth with touches of dreamlike strangeness, creating a story that explores loneliness, desire, and the longing to be seen beyond appearances.
The result is an intimate, haunting portrait of a woman striving to claim her place in a world that both fascinates and overwhelms her.
Although written in 1921, Memoirs of a Midget resonates powerfully with contemporary conversations about identity, bodily autonomy, and the experience of being “othered.”
Miss M.’s struggle to define herself beyond the limits imposed by society mirrors the way marginalized people today confront narrow definitions of normalcy and beauty. Her acute self-awareness, emotional isolation, and yearning for meaningful connection feel strikingly modern in an age defined by social media performance, hyper-visibility, and simultaneous loneliness.
Published by W. Collins Sons & Co. No date, but likely to be 1921. Good condition. No dust jacket. Binding intact. 380 pages
