The Legend of Edward Mordake: A Man with Two Faces

In the annals of strange medical history, few tales captivate the imagination quite like that of Edward Mordake, a man purported to have been born with a second face.

This legend, both haunting and tragic, has woven itself into the fabric of pop culture, retold in books, television shows, and in song. But was Edward Mordake real? Or does it warrant its renown as the Mordake hoax?

The story of Edward Mordake, sometimes spelled Edward Mordrake, first gained widespread attention following the 1896 publication of Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine. The tome, written by physicians George M. Gould and Walter Pyle, described the English nobleman as intelligent, musically gifted, and with a face as handsome as that of the Greek hero Antinous. But Edward Mordake reportedly had not one, but two faces; one at the front, and another on the back of his head.

The book identified Edward Mordake’s second face as that of a beautiful girl. More than that, it went on to call her as ‘lovely as a dream, hideous as a devil.’ You see, this female visage was not just a benign anomaly. According to the legend, it was fully formed, with functioning eyes and lips that moved, even though it could not speak. It was said to sneer and scowl, to delight in Mordake’s misery, and to whisper malevolent thoughts to him, driving him to madness. Mordake begged doctors to remove the face, pleading that it was not merely an unsightly growth but a demonic presence tormenting him day and night.

Despite his pleas, no doctor dared operate. Eventually, the legend claims, Edward Mordake took his own life at the age of 23, leaving behind a note that requested the “demon face” be destroyed before his burial, lest it continue to haunt him in death.

It was a story as unsettling as it was captivating. But the question is, was it fact, fiction, or something in between? In other words, was Edward Mordake real? And, if so, what was behind his physical anomaly? Let’s look at the evidence.

According to Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine, there was proof supporting the tale of Edward Mordake. In fact, the authors claimed the events were already so well-known that no further evidence was required, citing only “lay sources” for their information. Others have investigated the case however, seeking to confirm the facts as laid out.

The Origin of the Story

One of the main discoveries was that Gould and Pyles’ referenced “lay sources” were almost certainly a single source, namely a Boston Post article dated 8 December 1895. Titled “The Wonders of Modern Science: some half human monsters once thought to be of the Devil’s brood,” its wording matched exactly with that contained in the later book. Significantly, it was written by Charles Lotin Hildreth, a poet and author of speculative fiction, leading many to conclude that this two-face man was no more than another of Hildreth’s creations.

Doctors Who?

There seem to be no official medical records or other credible documentation to confirm Mordake’s second face or even his very existence. Indeed, while the article names Mordake’s physicians as “Manvers and Treadwell,” they too have yet to be identified.

The Photo

A photo widely shared on social media purported to show Edward Mordake’s mummified skull. Shown in profile, it does seem to confirm the presence of two faces on one head. However, in 2018, an artist called Ewart Schindler claimed the pictured skull, shown atop a labelled stand, as a joke artwork.

And yet, despite the lack of evidence, some argue that the two-face man is a medical possibility.

Over the years, two main medical theories have been espoused as possible explanations for the presentation of Edward Mordake. Some have argued that the case of Edward Mordake was a variation of a condition in conjoined twins known as Craniopagus Parasiticus. Other theories state that Mordake might have suffered instead from a congenital condition known as Diprosopus, or craniofacial duplication, in which facial features are duplicated to a greater or lesser extent on other areas of the head.

The distinct lack of evidence coupled with the story’s supernatural elements has led most to conclude that the legend of Edward Mordake is just that; a myth. There’s no historical records backing up the legend, no medical documents, and no credible evidence to confirm even the most basic existence of Edward Mordake.

Extensive searches over the years have revealed no birth certificates, death records, or contemporary accounts that mention him. Given the lack of verifiable evidence and the story’s origins in a fictional piece, Edward Mordake is widely considered to simply be a myth or urban legend rather than a real historical figure.

But as legends go, it’s proven to be an alluring one, going by the frequency in which it has featured in popular culture. In recent years, the story of this two-face man has appeared in various forms of media, from films and documentaries to TV shows. Each retelling of the legend adds new layers to the myth, ensuring that it remains in the public consciousness.

In the end, the question remains: was Edward Mordake real? While many believe his tale to be a fascinating piece of gothic fiction, others continue to search for evidence of the so-called two-face man.