Life in the circus in the 19th century.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... GREAT BRITAIN AND THE CONTINENT MY first trip to England was made in the fall of 1889 with the Barnum & Bailey show. This invasion of the "Old Country" was the idea of Mr. Bailey who worked out the plans for the undertaking, which was in the nature of an experiment, for no large American circus had ever before been to Europe, and just what its reception would be was problematical. It was a daring venture. If it "took," there were limitless possibilities in the way of success; if it did not, there was not only a diminishment of prestige, but a staggering financial loss to face. We sailed from New York October 20, 1889, in especially chartered boats, and reached London without mishap. Of course our coming had been much heralded in England, but there was a certain amount of skepticism as to our show being any better than the English, a feeling which of course was most pronounced among the British showmen themselves. The feeling was well shown by an incident that occurred soon after we docked and before we had begun to unload. A fellow who was proprietor of a small menagerie somewhere near London came on board, full of curiosity. It was Frank Bostock, later well known in this country, but at that time unheard of, "What 'ave you got to hexcite the Henglish people?" he asked me. "Oh, we've got some elephants, and some lions and tigers, some giraffes, some monkeys, and a lot of other animals, and a first-class circus," I told him. "Why, we've got loyns and toigers and helephants, and all those things over 'ere. You cawn't interest the people with those things, you know," Bostock answered, and Willie Sholes, a rider, who had been listening, broke in: "Never mind, Johnnie Bull, we've got a Yankee circus here, and we're going to show you fellows a...

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

In this memoir, George Conklin shares his experiences as a lion tamer and circus performer, recounting his encounters with wild animals, colorful characters, and unexpected challenges. With humor and candor, he offers a behind-the-scenes look into the thrilling and dangerous world of the circus. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two starcrossed magicians engage in a deadly game of cunning in the spellbinding novel that captured the world's imagination. • "Part love story, part fable ... defies both genres and expectations." —The Boston Globe The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

In this queer retelling of "Snow White and Rose Red" twins battle religious extremists to save their loves and circus family.

Over a half century, a small Indiana town hosts a circus troupe during the off-seasons in linked stories “as graceful as any acrobat’s high-wire act” (San Francisco Chronicle). A Story Prize Finalist From 1884 to 1939, the Great Porter Circus made the unlikely choice to winter in an Indiana town called Lima, a place that feels as classic as Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, and as wondrous as a first trip to the Big Top. In Lima, an elephant can change the course of a man's life—or the manner of his death. Jennie Dixianna entices men with her dazzling Spin of Death and keeps them in line with secrets locked in a cedar box. The lonely wife of the show’s manager has each room of her house painted like a sideshow banner, indulging her desperate passion for a young painter. And a former clown seeks consolation from his loveless marriage in his post-circus job at Clown Alley Cleaners. In this collection of linked stories spanning decades, Cathy Day follows the circus people into their everyday lives and brings the greatest show on earth to the page. “[An] exquisite story collection.” —The Washington Post “Often funny, always graceful, and rich with a mix of historical and imaginative detail.” —Tim O’Brien, author of The Things They Carried “Sublimely imaginative and affecting.” —The Boston Globe

Purple crayon in hand, Harold draws a tightrope and falls into a circus [where he has many adventures]. As in the previous books, the dauntless Harold is resourceful and loveable." SLJ.