Jacob Jankowski is a 23 year old veterinary school student in the 1930's, a practice that has run in his family. He is six days away from the end of his school year and preparing to take his exams to graduate to join the family business. He is called out of class and is informed that both of his parents were killed in a automobile accident and that he must go immediately to the police station and identify his parents. He is instantly devastated and upon seeing their corpses is violently sick. He returns to his family’s home where he is confronted head on by the nothingness they left behind. His father had exhausted all of his money paying for Jacobs ivy league education and a mortgage he took out to help pay it and from being a generous, compassionate person during a extremely tough economic climate.
He finds out that all of his parent’s property including their practice will be turned over to the bank. He returns to school and finds his once comfortable place within his school has been replaced by unfamiliarity and dizzying blurs of friends from yesterday's past. He walks out during his exam and doesn't stop walking until his feet blister and hunger wrenches his stomach into knots. He is soon confronted by a train billowing his way, snapping out of his stupor he begins to chase after the train. He barely manages to get aboard in one piece and is immediately threatened with being returned to the ground he came from at a frightening speed. A stranger named camel comes show more to his rescue, saving him from being tossed from the train by Blackie a bouncer of sorts. Once on the train, his new friend camel realizes he is no bum but a college student. And Jacob realizes he has jumped in to the train of the Benzini brother’s most spectacular show on earth. Jacob soon learns his way around the business and eventually reveals he was in school to be a veterinarian.
Jacob soon is faced with many issues and concerns, his first friend Camel is slowly becoming paralyzed from a contaminated alcohol substitute that he has drank for some time. As well as his growing concern and fascination with Marlena August’s wife, a beautiful equestrian performer. Rosie is introduced to the plot by becoming a member of the show by being an unclaimed animal left over from an out of business circus show. Rosie is a trained elephant that August unwillingly agrees to take on, and she gives all the trainers a run for their money. Soon Jacob over hears a man speaking Polish to her and her obeying his commands. Jacob soon realizes he has a way to take care of her and keep her from being abandoned or worse.
The novel is woven with flash forward to Jacob when he is in his nineties and slowly becoming duller at a retirement home. He is very unsatisfied with his state, being constantly forced to reminisce about his circus days. Jacob must wage against the odd in trying to get Marlena to fall in love with him despite her overzealous, suspicious husband August- the boss. Along with save a whole show full of animals.
When Jacob, in his nineties learns that a circus is coming to town right near his home, he spends the days waiting for its arrival and is disappointed by his abandonment by his family. He makes his way over to the big tent, takes in the show and after sharing his legacy with an employee is offered the opportunity to travel with the circus one more. show less
He finds out that all of his parent’s property including their practice will be turned over to the bank. He returns to school and finds his once comfortable place within his school has been replaced by unfamiliarity and dizzying blurs of friends from yesterday's past. He walks out during his exam and doesn't stop walking until his feet blister and hunger wrenches his stomach into knots. He is soon confronted by a train billowing his way, snapping out of his stupor he begins to chase after the train. He barely manages to get aboard in one piece and is immediately threatened with being returned to the ground he came from at a frightening speed. A stranger named camel comes show more to his rescue, saving him from being tossed from the train by Blackie a bouncer of sorts. Once on the train, his new friend camel realizes he is no bum but a college student. And Jacob realizes he has jumped in to the train of the Benzini brother’s most spectacular show on earth. Jacob soon learns his way around the business and eventually reveals he was in school to be a veterinarian.
Jacob soon is faced with many issues and concerns, his first friend Camel is slowly becoming paralyzed from a contaminated alcohol substitute that he has drank for some time. As well as his growing concern and fascination with Marlena August’s wife, a beautiful equestrian performer. Rosie is introduced to the plot by becoming a member of the show by being an unclaimed animal left over from an out of business circus show. Rosie is a trained elephant that August unwillingly agrees to take on, and she gives all the trainers a run for their money. Soon Jacob over hears a man speaking Polish to her and her obeying his commands. Jacob soon realizes he has a way to take care of her and keep her from being abandoned or worse.
The novel is woven with flash forward to Jacob when he is in his nineties and slowly becoming duller at a retirement home. He is very unsatisfied with his state, being constantly forced to reminisce about his circus days. Jacob must wage against the odd in trying to get Marlena to fall in love with him despite her overzealous, suspicious husband August- the boss. Along with save a whole show full of animals.
When Jacob, in his nineties learns that a circus is coming to town right near his home, he spends the days waiting for its arrival and is disappointed by his abandonment by his family. He makes his way over to the big tent, takes in the show and after sharing his legacy with an employee is offered the opportunity to travel with the circus one more. show less