Documents 

From Lentini the three-legged man and Siamese twins to equipment caravans and big top architects, this captivating collection lifts the striped curtain to reveal the larger-than-life world of circuses, carnivals, and freak shows in post-World War II America. Copious never-before-seen photographs, in-depth historical research, and insightful interviews with former sideshow employees illustrate the development of the circus sideshow, the roles of key groups—the freaks, working acts, managers, talkers—and the importance of the grift. [editor summary]

From striptease midgets, human pin cushions, and monkeys in miniature race cars to trained fleas and people with double bodies, three legs, and enormous feet, this chronicle of twisted midway attractions and the showmen who have presented them covers it all. The history of the circus side show and its companion, the carnival, is celebrated in words and rare, eye-popping images, making this a must for all collectors and enthusiasts. Interviews with many of the big players on the carnival circuit are included. [editor summary]

This is a monumental history of that universally trancing, international phenomenon-the circus. It is the most complete chronicle of circuses and circus lore ever written in the english language. No reader can fail to be impressed by the scope of its coverage and the vividness of its descriptions. No lover of circus wonders can remain unmoved while reading of the people and performances that illuminated circus life.

The author reveals the origins of circus acts among Greek and Roman acrobats and medieval minstrels, tracing their development through eighteenth-century
fairs where they were combined with displays of horse riding in a circular ring to form a new style of presentation. He then follows the evolution of circuses during the nineteenth century, showing how novel acts and exhibitions of animal training were introduced to produce the circus we know today.

Mr. Speaight demonstrates the special way in which the circus grew in the United States, where three-ring circuses were transported over vast distances by railroad; and he describes the Golden Age of the circus in Europe, when circus riders ranked with ballet stars in popular esteem. Finally, he provides an up-to-the-minute account of circuses in the world today.

The author's account is based on many years of research in unpublished manuscripts and museum collections, and he reverses some long.held errors of previous writers on the subject. His book contains exhaustive notes and an appendix, listing circus buildings in London, New york and paris, which brings together information never before printed, giving the book great value as a permanent work of reference. [editor summary]

Ce livre retrace à la fois les exploits les plus intrépides et les plus insolites tentés par des hommes qui reculent au maximum la limite des possibilités en matière d'audace, de sang-froid, d'adresse, de réflexes et de cran.

D'abord, les cascadeurs du cinéma, à commencer par le plus célèbre d'entre eux, Gil Delamare, dont les capacités exceptionnelles étaient souvent requises, comme on le verra, pour des tentatives intéressant la collectivité, notamment en matière de sécurité routière.

Puis les excentriques, et parmi eux les « fascinés » du Niagara qui ne craignirent pas d'en affronter les chutes sur un radeau ou dans un tonneau, à la nage ou sur une simple corde tendue d'une rive à l'autre.

Voici Jean Sunny et les sensationnels numéros de « dressage effectués avec les voitures de son « auto-rodéo ». Voici Andrée Jan qui exécute ses exercices de trapèze suspendue à la cabine d'un hélicoptère survolant Paris.

Voici les risque-tout quotidiens des fêtes foraines, ceux du « looping the loop » et ceux de la « boule infernale », les cyclistes transformés en flèches volantes et, parmi les gens du voyage, les acrobates jouant leur vie, comme les fameux Ciérans, dans le « Saut de la Mort ».

Bref, un récit fait pour passionner les amateurs d'émotions fortes, mais aussi un ouvrage semé de détails précis, souvent ignorés, comme seul pouvait en rassembler un auteur dont la connaissance du sujet et la documentation sont hors de pair. [résumé de l’éditeur]