Linda Simon
Author of The Biography of Alice B. Toklas
About the Author
Linda Simon is a professor of English at Skidmore College
Image credit: via goodreads
Works by Linda Simon
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1946
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Agent
- Elaine Markson
Members
Reviews
Lists
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 17
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 472
- Popularity
- #52,190
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 8
- ISBNs
- 34
First, it feels like a book researched and written by a scholar for a more general audience. If this is the case, I think Simon can't help herself but drop the names of minor historical figures she ran across as part of her research. This tendency is probably out of respect for the value and quality of her source material (which I can appreciate), but it really bogs down any narrative momentum she manages to generate.
The other way to read this book is as a starter text for people who want a light, historical overview of different facets of the circus. For instance, I came to this book wanting to learn more about circus clowns. The info was pretty good, but Simon seems stuck between covering several different influential clowns and offering us a more thorough description/analysis of any given performer. That's pretty common for a text meant as an introduction to a topic, so I don't see it as a flaw.
My biggest disappointment with this book is that I was hoping Simon might pay more attention to the everyday lives of the circus performers. There's virtually none of that. Again, I don't think that was ever Simon's intent, so it's not a flaw.
Overall, a good introduction to circus history with decent coverage of different elements that make up the spectacle of the circus.… (more)