The Circus in Winter (2004)

by Cathy Day

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Showing 1-5 of 8 (next | show all)

This is a fascinating novel of the Wallace Porter circus that wintered in Lima, Indiana. The author grew up in Peru, Indiana where the actual Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus wintered.

This is a humorous, insightful, poignant in-depth look at circus life from 1884-1939. Painting a lovely canvas of circus freaks, clowns, acrobats, ring leaders, managers, owners, elephants, hippos, tigers and the strong resiliency of a circus struggling to survive, the author never stoops to pity or darkness.

Through a series of well told, interlocking stories, this is well researched snapshot of a complex community.

Highly recommended. (

)

Whisper1 | Aug 23, 2011 |

There's something inherently fasinating about a circus. There's also something inherently creepy about a circus. What does the circus do when the winter comes? Why, they settle in Indiana. Why they would choose a cold place to winter instead of say, California or Florida is a question for another book. There is a town in Florida where ex-circus folk live but that's another book as well. This is the story of the fictional Wallace Porter circus and it's winters in Lima, Indiana (Lie-ma, not Leema) Based on a real circus that wintered in Peru, Indiana this is a inside look into depression era circus life.

The second section of the book deals more with the families who live in this former circus town and while not nearly as fascinating still very well written and an interesting take on how the history of a small town plays a large part in the lives of it's inhabitants. (

)

bremmd | Jun 15, 2010 |

Seemingly a collection of short stories that weave in and out of each other to tell the tale of quiet town that has more history than it knows. Oddly, the style reminded me of Julian Barnes' History of the World in Ten and Half Chapters. (

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stevedore | Apr 9, 2010 |

stories: Wallace Porter / Jennie Dixianna / The Last Member of the Boela Tribe / The Circus House / Winnesaw / The Lone Star Cowboy / The Jungle Goolah Boy / The King and His Court / Boss Man / The Bullhook / Circus People

I really enjoyed this collection of interrelated short stories all set in the same town, where a traveling circus spends the winter months. Together, these tales form a sketchbook history of the town (inspired by Day's own hometown) and its denizens. Really, though, the stories deal with the motivations and relationships of their very human characters, with the sawdust and sequins merely a backdrop.

In other words, this collection may appeal to non-"circus fanatics" who appreciate character-driven, introspective writing. (

)

extrajoker | Jun 9, 2008 |

I thought Day did an excellent job of depicting this golden era of the American circus. I have always heard of the Indiana ties to the circus, but never embraced them as I did after reading The Circus in Winter. I am now itching to visit the Peru circus museum. (

)

iubookgirl | May 17, 2008 |

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Series (with order)

Canonical title

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

2004

People/Characters

Important places

Indiana, USA

Lima, Indiana, USA

USA

Important events

Related movies

Awards and honors

Great Lakes Book Award Finalist (Fiction, 2005)

Epigraph

Dedication

For the five of us

First words

Circus proprietors are not born to sawdust and spangles.

Quotations

Last words

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

O'Brien, Tim

Perabo, Susan

O'Nan, Stewart

Publisher series

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Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0156032023, Paperback)

From 1884 to 1939, the Great Porter Circus makes 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 her astonishing debut, Cathy Day follows the circus people into their everyday lives, bringing the greatest show on earth to the page.

(retrieved from Amazon Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:15:25 -0400)

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▾Library descriptions

"From 1884 to 1939, the Great Porter Circus makes the unlikely choice to winter in an Indiana town called Lima, a place that feels as ordinary as Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, and as wondrous as a first trip to the Big Top." "Over three generations, the circus transforms this small town, providing a magical backdrop to daily life. In Lima, Indiana, meeting an elephant can change 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 the young painter. And a former clown seeks consolation from his loveless marriage in his post-circus job at Clown Alley Cleaners. In Lima, legend and lore outlive the circus itself, luring contemporary inhabitants to faraway places in search of the adventure that has moved on.". "The connected tales of The Circus in Winter display the rise and fall of an American circus. Cathy Day follows the performers and their progeny into history, bringing everyday lives of circus people to the page."--BOOK JACKET.… (more)