Books
My suggestions for locating the titles listed below are as follows - first and foremost, check your local library. I've managed to find a number of these books in most libraries I've visited. For purchase, Amazon.com is usually a good source to check. Half.ebay.com is also a good place to find used books at a lower price.
The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity
by Ashley Montagu
This book, published in the 1970's was largely responsible for the resurgance in interest in Joseph's story. It contains the story from Treves' memoirs regarding Joseph, and reads, to me, like a medical case study, though it  isn't difficult for the average reader to understand. It does contain a number of misconceptions, springing directly from Treves' memoirs, but is definitely worth a read. It should be easy to locate in any public library.
The True History of the Elephant Man
by Michael Howell and Peter Ford
This is by far my favorite book about Joseph. Extremely well researched, it provides an in depth biography covering Joseph's entire life, as well as a fascinating picture of Victorian England in general. The more recent edition does contain more information than the original printing from the early 1980's, though most libraries seem to have the older edition (very much worth a read). It's a better bet to track down the newer edition online.
The Elephant Man
by Frederick Drimmer
This is an absolutely adorable historically based fictional account of Joseph's story, intended for younger readers (specifically, somewhere around 11-13 years old). The book is very faithful to the real life facts, and, though it is intended for younger readers, it's such a charming telling, I'd recommend it to adults as well. This one can be a little bit harder to get a hold of, but I didn't have too much difficulty in tracking down a copy.
The Elephant Man
by Christine Sparks
This is a novel based on the 1980 film. It's an interesting telling of the tale, and contains some scenes that were cut from the film, but of course, it does contain all the same historical inaccuracies as the movie. I haven't seen this one in libraries as frequently, but it isn't difficult to buy online.
The Elephant Man
by Bernard Pomerance
This is, of course, the script for the play. It's quite thought provoking, and I usually find something new in it every time I read it. This is a fairly easy book to come by, in libraries, online, or in regular bookstores.
The Elephant Man
by Michael Howell and Peter Ford
This is, of course, a different book than the one listed above. This is an illustrated childrens book, probably intended for readers somewhere around age 9. It's a shirt and simple telling of the story, but the illustrations are lovely, done in a colorful impressionist sort of style. It took my quite awhile to track this one down, but I eventually did find a copy on eBay.
The Elephant Man, the book of the film
by Joy Kuhn
This is a 'making of' book which features sections on different aspects of the film, such as the creative team, the true story that inspired the film, the makeup, and many pages of pictures from the movies, some of which were later cut from the film. All of the pictures are in black and white. I've only seen this book in one library, and have seen a few copies floating around on eBay from time to time.
From Hell
by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
This is the graphic novel on which the film was based. As in the film, Joseph is only a minor figure in this story, as the plot centers around the 'Jack the Ripper' murders. By nature of it's subject, the book can be quite sexually and violently explicit, and I wouldn't recommend it to younger readers. The history of the Ripper murders is obviously very well researched, and the novel does give a fascinating look into life in Whitechapel in the 1880's. Joseph's character is not as well researched, and is presented mostly for symbolism, and an interesting cameo. The author seems to have taken the character and his surroundings entirely from the 1980 film, as Dr. Treves looks a good deal like Anthony Hopkins, but not much like the real life doctor, and Joseph's apartment is identical to the film set. The drawings in this graphic novel are completely black and white, and of a rough sketch sort of quality, and poor Joseph most often looks like a scribble wearing a suit. Best bets for finding this item are probably online, though bookstores should be able to order it.
Resources and Interpretations
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