The Circus Kings: Our Ringling Family Story
by Henry Ringling North, Alden Hatch
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Description
After years of being out of print, the story behind 'The Greatest Show on Earth' is back for new generations to discover. Through the early twentieth century, the Ringling Brothers created a spectacle like no one had ever seen, and one that still wows audiences to this day. Yet what most people do not know is that events behind the scenes rivaled the excitement and intrigue of the center ring.Originally published in 1960, and told with remarkable honesty by the nephew of the original show more Ringling brothers, ""The Circus Kings"" remains a clear and unexaggerated telling of what the circus was like for those who lived it. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
geophile Those reading Water For Elephants might like to read how things really were in the circus, and those reading The Circus Kings, might like to read about the circus in fiction.
Member Reviews
The history of, and life in one of the most successful circuses in North America is an interesting and unusual topic, and not many could tell about everyday circus life with the authority of Henry Ringling North. However, the book is a little dry in places, and I found myself putting it down and coming back to it later several times. All in all, though, it was worth the read.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Circus Kings: Our Ringling Family Story
- Original title
- The Circus Kings: Our Ringling family Story
- Original publication date
- 2008
- People/Characters
- Albert "Al" Ringling; August Ringling; Otto Ringling; Alfred "Alf" Ringling; Charles Ringling; John Ringling (show all 11); Henry Ringling; Ida Ringling North; Henry W. North; Henry Ringling North; John Ringling North
- Important places
- Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
- Important events
- Great Depression (1929)
- Dedication
- To John, who filled a father's place and smoothed my way with gaiety and affection.
- First words
- The circus is a jealous wench.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I am proud and grateful to have been aboard the train for part of the way.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)That magical transformation still happens at the circus and the benefits that it provided to him are evident in his personal compound on Sarasota Bay. (Afterword)
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 29
- Popularity
- 949,584
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.17)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 2
