Meet "The Little Adriens": the microscopic man

A brief and unrecorded biography of the celebrated dwarf performer known as “The Little Adriens” or “Colibri”. Since his impresario Olivier Maréchal penned the text, expect the facts to be wearing their Sunday best.

Born in 1882 in Croismare, a village in northeastern France, AdrienEsmilaire became world-famous for his exceptionally small stature. Standing just 69 cm tall (about 2 feet 3 inches) and weighing only 9 kilograms, he was celebrated as the smallest living man of his time.

Adrien stopped growing entirely after the age of one, yet remained in excellent health throughout his life. Known for his refined manners and delicate features, he charmed audiences across Europe and the United States. In America, he was marketed as the "microscopic man" and drew crowds eager to see the living embodiment of a Lilliputian from Gulliver’s Travels.

He often appeared alongside giants—most notably one of the Hugo brothers, billed as the largest men in the world—to dramatize his tiny size. His popularity extended beyond the stage, attracting interest from scientific institutions, and he proudly held the record for smallness, offering a 1,000-franc prize to anyone who could prove smaller.

In 1903, following his international success, Adrien performed in Lunéville, France, where he was met with enthusiastic applause and glowing press coverage. He died in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1918 of pneumonia; he is buried at Westview Cemetery.

The present brochure was no doubt published to promote his performances in France. The text mentions that Adrien is 27 years old. He was born in 1882, so it must have been published in 1909. The colossus depicted on the front wrapper, towering above Adrien, was likely one of the Hugo brothers.