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Spangle #1-3
Spangle
A nineteenth century circus troupe, including a beautiful aerialist, a lion tamer, a strongman, a gypsy fortuneteller, and a sideshow, tours the post Civil War South and the courts of Europe
869 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
31 people are currently reading
869 people want to read
About the author
Gary Jennings
139 books454 followersGary Jennings led a paradoxically picaresque life. On one hand, he was a man of acknowledged intellect and erudition. His novels were international best sellers, praised around the world for their stylish prose, lively wit and adventurously bawdy spirit. They were also massive - often topping 500,000 words - and widely acclaimed for the years of research he put into each one, both in libraries and in the field.
Jennings served in the Korean War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal- a decoration rarely given to soldier-reporters- and a personal citation by South Korean President Syngman Rhee for his efforts on behalf of war orphans.
Where the erudition came from, however, was something of a mystery.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/garyje...
Jennings served in the Korean War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal- a decoration rarely given to soldier-reporters- and a personal citation by South Korean President Syngman Rhee for his efforts on behalf of war orphans.
Where the erudition came from, however, was something of a mystery.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/garyje...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 9, 2020
Spangle is not a book of epic heroes, it is not a book of glory, nor a overall very happy one, instead however, I found it to be a book that is very realistic time period, a book that was well crafted with care and love(unlike half the stuff these days). The entire book feels like one grand and epic adventure from the Confederate South, to all around Europe. It follows a circus which rises from humble beginnings to performing in Paris and having the favour of Tsar Alexander and Louis Napoleon.
It is a book of different races and many brillant people who seem very real. Unlike some books where everyone manages to stay alive or are all beautifully perfect, this book is not. Many of the main characters die throughout the book in very normal ways, Edge’s beloved is taken by disease, Maggie dies from the turnover of a carriage, Florian dies from stroke. This realism is incredibly satisfying and very different to magical healing(every fantasy book ever that has a magic system) and the length and sheer scope of the journey makes us feel that we are with the characters for the entire tale which spans over six years.
This book, staying realistic to the time may however cause offence to readers who isn’t white and words which are deemed explicit and rude are used to both describe but also used in speech. Beware of that. Another note, this book contains lots of underage sex(with references of rapes of girls as young as five), and lots of rape in general, so if that’s not something you can stand, don’t read this book.
This is not a perfect book and being 1278 pages, it is a massive tale which huge amounts of story that is set in a moderate pace, with the ending feeling a bit draggy with the Siege of Paris(1870-1871) taking up a huge chunk of the book. 9/10
It is a book of different races and many brillant people who seem very real. Unlike some books where everyone manages to stay alive or are all beautifully perfect, this book is not. Many of the main characters die throughout the book in very normal ways, Edge’s beloved is taken by disease, Maggie dies from the turnover of a carriage, Florian dies from stroke. This realism is incredibly satisfying and very different to magical healing(every fantasy book ever that has a magic system) and the length and sheer scope of the journey makes us feel that we are with the characters for the entire tale which spans over six years.
This book, staying realistic to the time may however cause offence to readers who isn’t white and words which are deemed explicit and rude are used to both describe but also used in speech. Beware of that. Another note, this book contains lots of underage sex(with references of rapes of girls as young as five), and lots of rape in general, so if that’s not something you can stand, don’t read this book.
This is not a perfect book and being 1278 pages, it is a massive tale which huge amounts of story that is set in a moderate pace, with the ending feeling a bit draggy with the Siege of Paris(1870-1871) taking up a huge chunk of the book. 9/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2013
A sprawling epic of a traveling circus by the author of Aztec. Spangle is a tome and a half yet I was so enthralled I often found myself worrying it would end too soon. There are so many memorable characters. Florian, Edge and Clover Lee would be the stars but the supporting cast is just compelling. As the circus travels across post Civil War America and finally on to Europe they are joined by new acts. I don't think it's a spoiler to point out that there are always openings as performers are trampled, impaled, immolated and worse. As in Aztec there is Grand Guignol aplenty. Nobody is safe. Gary Jennings certainly took William Faulkner's advice to "kill your darlings" to heart. My sole objection is the occasional use of stereotypes. Vengeful lesbians, pedophile midgets and noble Southrons. But for each of these there is a wholly unexpected and intriguing character you've never met. Best book I've read in a long, long time.
December 16, 2011
more like [9/10] but WOW ! what an amazing journey across continents, historical events, civilizations and into the complexities of human motivations and relationships. The wealth of material here is staggering, the author must have lived and breathed in the circus world for years. I think I have read on Wikipedia that he joined no less than 8 different circus acts on the road. I feel saturated now, after the last page in eclectic terms designed to confuse the "rube" or "josser"- that is the uninitiated - in a way similar to sailors who have their own names for familiar things. There's also the exhilarating mix of languages that the author has chosen to preserve in order to respect the cosmopolite origins of the troupe members and to give texture to their personalities. This might cerate problems for some readers, but luckily I come from the Balkans where having a modic understanding of Slavonic terms, English , French , German and Italian isn't all that difficult to acquire.
Back to Florian's Flourishing Florilegium of Wonders : I was caught in their limelight and enchanted right from their first entrance, in the aftermath of the Civil War, when they are just a handful of pennyless artists trying to scrape a living in a mud show and getting paid in tobacco leafs and foodstuffs. There are many emotionally charged moments in the book, as the tropue follow the dream of being recognized as the Greatest Show on Earth, but none had the same impact as the very first performance when the ragged band of beggars is somehow - magically? - transformed into the stuff that dreams are made of.
So, I followed their fate across the Atlantic, from Florence to Innsbruck, and from Munchen to Vienna, across the puszta to Budapest and then to Moscow, Leningrad and the final apotheosis of Paris - the City of Lights. I laughed, and I cried and I held to the edge of my seat as ordinary people explored the limits of what is possible and sometimes paid the ultimate price for being a daredevil.
What is this fascination with the Circus? What moves these people to chose life on the road? I will let Gary Jennings explain with a couple of quotes from the book:
"We like to think of circus as an art, and I would hardly rank art as a trifle," said Florian. Indeed, ours is the oldest art there is — performing. Also the most ephemeral of arts, I have to admit that. We strike light across the air, yes. But, like light on air, we leave no mark, no trace, no history. Poets leave thoughts, artists leave visions—even warriors leave deeds. We do nothing but entertain, and we don't pretend we're doing anything more significant. We come into humdrum communities where pinched little people lead commonplace lives, and we bring them a bit of novelty, a touch of the exotic. For the space of a day perhaps, we give those people a look at gloss and gossamer, danger and daring, a laugh and a thrill they may never have had before. And then, like a dream or a fairy tale — or what the Scots call glamour — we are gone and forgotten."
---
"No actor was ever an actor until he started acting. And nobody ever knows what extraordinary things he may be capable of, until he tries something out of the ordinary. That's what the circus is, Obie — a stretching of the limits of the possible, a defiance of the strictures of the commonplace, a realization that the impossible can be possible."
---
And Edge felt on his face that old familiar breeze that blows always from the far places and beckons: "come see what I have seen."
---
For all my enthusiasm about the book, I still think it has a few problems, especially in the second half of the journey. The infodumps are cleverly inserted into the story and relevant to the progress of the plot, but still they are numerous and add a lot of baggage. This wasn't so much of an issue at the start when I learned about the behind the scenes tricks and sleight-of-hand of each performer, but later they are mostly about a travel guide through 19 century Europe and numerous trivia about countries and places. The final chapters in Paris are also heavily political and confirm a certain fascination on the part of the author for the elite and for the crowned heads.
Another slight issue is a certain soap opera flavor to the human interest stories, where the same plot devices are used repeatedly until they lose some of the emotional impact and become predictable. Also, the growing number of performers and supporting cast meant less time could be spent on their individual fate or acts and the focus was moved to outside events. Part of my actual job is as a safety engineer, and I must say - Florian's enterprise has a dismal record even for 19 century.
Some of the choices of the author in regards political corectness I'm sure add a lot of realism to his setting, but still the overt racism, calousness and sexual abuse of children make for an uncomfortable read sometimes. Like I said, I believe this is a generally accurate depiction of the mentality of the times, and there are numerous examples that Circus artists may be amoral, but not without an ingrained sense of justice where tresspassers are dealt with succintly. Actually, in their multicultural environment they were probably at the forefront of the liberal movement. Here's another worthy quote from the book:
"we must never let ourselves be bound by propriety, precedent, convention or morality; those things are recipes for banality"
so, what is the spangle : a cheap piece of metal sewn into a fleshling? or a magical bit of starlight caught in the net of dreams?
saltaverunt ... placuerunt ... mortui sunt ...
Back to Florian's Flourishing Florilegium of Wonders : I was caught in their limelight and enchanted right from their first entrance, in the aftermath of the Civil War, when they are just a handful of pennyless artists trying to scrape a living in a mud show and getting paid in tobacco leafs and foodstuffs. There are many emotionally charged moments in the book, as the tropue follow the dream of being recognized as the Greatest Show on Earth, but none had the same impact as the very first performance when the ragged band of beggars is somehow - magically? - transformed into the stuff that dreams are made of.
So, I followed their fate across the Atlantic, from Florence to Innsbruck, and from Munchen to Vienna, across the puszta to Budapest and then to Moscow, Leningrad and the final apotheosis of Paris - the City of Lights. I laughed, and I cried and I held to the edge of my seat as ordinary people explored the limits of what is possible and sometimes paid the ultimate price for being a daredevil.
What is this fascination with the Circus? What moves these people to chose life on the road? I will let Gary Jennings explain with a couple of quotes from the book:
"We like to think of circus as an art, and I would hardly rank art as a trifle," said Florian. Indeed, ours is the oldest art there is — performing. Also the most ephemeral of arts, I have to admit that. We strike light across the air, yes. But, like light on air, we leave no mark, no trace, no history. Poets leave thoughts, artists leave visions—even warriors leave deeds. We do nothing but entertain, and we don't pretend we're doing anything more significant. We come into humdrum communities where pinched little people lead commonplace lives, and we bring them a bit of novelty, a touch of the exotic. For the space of a day perhaps, we give those people a look at gloss and gossamer, danger and daring, a laugh and a thrill they may never have had before. And then, like a dream or a fairy tale — or what the Scots call glamour — we are gone and forgotten."
---
"No actor was ever an actor until he started acting. And nobody ever knows what extraordinary things he may be capable of, until he tries something out of the ordinary. That's what the circus is, Obie — a stretching of the limits of the possible, a defiance of the strictures of the commonplace, a realization that the impossible can be possible."
---
And Edge felt on his face that old familiar breeze that blows always from the far places and beckons: "come see what I have seen."
---
For all my enthusiasm about the book, I still think it has a few problems, especially in the second half of the journey. The infodumps are cleverly inserted into the story and relevant to the progress of the plot, but still they are numerous and add a lot of baggage. This wasn't so much of an issue at the start when I learned about the behind the scenes tricks and sleight-of-hand of each performer, but later they are mostly about a travel guide through 19 century Europe and numerous trivia about countries and places. The final chapters in Paris are also heavily political and confirm a certain fascination on the part of the author for the elite and for the crowned heads.
Another slight issue is a certain soap opera flavor to the human interest stories, where the same plot devices are used repeatedly until they lose some of the emotional impact and become predictable. Also, the growing number of performers and supporting cast meant less time could be spent on their individual fate or acts and the focus was moved to outside events. Part of my actual job is as a safety engineer, and I must say - Florian's enterprise has a dismal record even for 19 century.
Some of the choices of the author in regards political corectness I'm sure add a lot of realism to his setting, but still the overt racism, calousness and sexual abuse of children make for an uncomfortable read sometimes. Like I said, I believe this is a generally accurate depiction of the mentality of the times, and there are numerous examples that Circus artists may be amoral, but not without an ingrained sense of justice where tresspassers are dealt with succintly. Actually, in their multicultural environment they were probably at the forefront of the liberal movement. Here's another worthy quote from the book:
"we must never let ourselves be bound by propriety, precedent, convention or morality; those things are recipes for banality"
so, what is the spangle : a cheap piece of metal sewn into a fleshling? or a magical bit of starlight caught in the net of dreams?
saltaverunt ... placuerunt ... mortui sunt ...
April 16, 2010
While being cheap, tawdry, and superficial, Gary Jennings' novel Spangle is to be commended for teaching me a little about the inner workings of a nineteenth century circus.
April 16, 2020
3.5 Stars
January 17, 2009
Spangle isn't a bad book. I'm embarrassed to say that frankly. However Jennings' books have a certain pattern that always diminishes them in my opinion. When I talk about his books I'm talking about the big three; Aztec, Journeyer, and Spangle. Don't get me started on Raptor. I think I consigned my copy to the fires of hell. Though I think hell didn't want that crap either and it may be propping up a table, or being dissolved in battery acid, or tossed in the cooling pool in a nuclear power plant.
Anyway, there comes a point in the plot of the big three, maybe two-thirds of the way in, where the mood suddenly darkens. Our protagonists go from carefree, fornicating, luck-wielding, heroes to glum, brooding, and ever-fearfully-watching-over-their-shoulder Jobs (in the biblical sense). This isn't as bad in Spangle, but it's there in it and certainly in the the others. This always takes the books from historical romps to drudgery. I assume they were meant to show that our protagonists struggle with the consequences of what they've done, but for me they darken the books to the point of almost unreadability. The books go great up to that point and then Jennings applied the mood breaks and screeeeech!
In Aztec this happened after our hero has settled in Tenochtitlan and now must fearfully await the strike of his nemesis what's-his-name (which is a literary term). In Journeyer you have all the intrigue, plots, subplots, and subsubplots in the court of Genghis Khan along with a weird dose of, well weirdness with Marco's uncle. Spangle has it as well, but I have a bad memory so I forget where.
This tone change is honestly why seconds after I think to myself I'll read them again, I cannot bring myself to up the books. No amount of sex, violence, more sex, and historical background (and sex) adequately make up for the sudden spiral of bleh that suddenly engulf the characters and plot.
Still, Spangle,Aztec, and Journeyer aren't bad. They just aren't all that good.
Anyway, there comes a point in the plot of the big three, maybe two-thirds of the way in, where the mood suddenly darkens. Our protagonists go from carefree, fornicating, luck-wielding, heroes to glum, brooding, and ever-fearfully-watching-over-their-shoulder Jobs (in the biblical sense). This isn't as bad in Spangle, but it's there in it and certainly in the the others. This always takes the books from historical romps to drudgery. I assume they were meant to show that our protagonists struggle with the consequences of what they've done, but for me they darken the books to the point of almost unreadability. The books go great up to that point and then Jennings applied the mood breaks and screeeeech!
In Aztec this happened after our hero has settled in Tenochtitlan and now must fearfully await the strike of his nemesis what's-his-name (which is a literary term). In Journeyer you have all the intrigue, plots, subplots, and subsubplots in the court of Genghis Khan along with a weird dose of, well weirdness with Marco's uncle. Spangle has it as well, but I have a bad memory so I forget where.
This tone change is honestly why seconds after I think to myself I'll read them again, I cannot bring myself to up the books. No amount of sex, violence, more sex, and historical background (and sex) adequately make up for the sudden spiral of bleh that suddenly engulf the characters and plot.
Still, Spangle,Aztec, and Journeyer aren't bad. They just aren't all that good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2016
At 1,278 pages, this book didn't feel that long. I was a bit unsure at first, but before I knew it, I was digging it. I mean, how many historical fiction books about the circus had I read before? Exactly none. The descriptions of circus life and living were very detailed and for all I can surmise, accurate as well.
Some of the characters have long names which get annoying to read again and again, but so many of them come and go that it doesn't matter. Indeed, there are so many characters, and some so strange it doesn't really pay to get attached to them. But you won't want for lack of variety!
The landscape is another constantly changing character as they march across continents, sail across oceans, pass through seasons and wars. I like learning bits of history while being entertained, and in a variety of languages, too! And everything is conveniently explained to the less world-savvy characters in the novel, so the reader never feels left out of the loop.
There is a bit of bawdiness in the book, but what I think could be more offensive to sensitive readers would be the blatant racism and sexism which are a reflection of the times. There's an unhealthy dose of animal cruelty as well. Keep in mind, this story takes place at the end of the 19th century in a circus setting, with some wars mixed in. All in all, pretty light, considering.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good bit of escapism, and something different.
Some of the characters have long names which get annoying to read again and again, but so many of them come and go that it doesn't matter. Indeed, there are so many characters, and some so strange it doesn't really pay to get attached to them. But you won't want for lack of variety!
The landscape is another constantly changing character as they march across continents, sail across oceans, pass through seasons and wars. I like learning bits of history while being entertained, and in a variety of languages, too! And everything is conveniently explained to the less world-savvy characters in the novel, so the reader never feels left out of the loop.
There is a bit of bawdiness in the book, but what I think could be more offensive to sensitive readers would be the blatant racism and sexism which are a reflection of the times. There's an unhealthy dose of animal cruelty as well. Keep in mind, this story takes place at the end of the 19th century in a circus setting, with some wars mixed in. All in all, pretty light, considering.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good bit of escapism, and something different.
August 16, 2015
Bellissimo libro, che conferma la stima che nutro nei confronti di Jennings, davvero un abile narratore!
Ho apprezzato particolarmente il personaggio di Florian, il pater familias di questo gruppo circense che gira l'Europa partendo dalla lontana America. Personaggio scoppiettante, grande affabulatore, ricco di risorse, capace anche di imbrogli, ma molto umano e sempre disposto a venire incontro alle esigenze di ogni singolo componente del suo circo, perchè "bisogna risolvere i problemi man mano che si presentano".
Non voglio discutere della validità storica di ciò che è narrato, penso che il romanzo abbia un maggior valore da un punto di vista strettamente "umano". I personaggi sono tutti ben caratterizzati, ognuno con le sue ambizioni, i suoi problemi e le sue risorse. Davvero un mondo estremamente variegato quello che ci viene presentato e non ci viene nemmeno risparmiata la crudezza di certi episodi, il che, a mio parere, contribuisce a rendere tutto più realistico.
L'unica nota negativa riguarda la lunghezza. Forse se alcune parti fossero state sfrondate la lettura ne avrebbe giovato. In ogni caso resta un romanzo piacevolissimo.
Ho apprezzato particolarmente il personaggio di Florian, il pater familias di questo gruppo circense che gira l'Europa partendo dalla lontana America. Personaggio scoppiettante, grande affabulatore, ricco di risorse, capace anche di imbrogli, ma molto umano e sempre disposto a venire incontro alle esigenze di ogni singolo componente del suo circo, perchè "bisogna risolvere i problemi man mano che si presentano".
Non voglio discutere della validità storica di ciò che è narrato, penso che il romanzo abbia un maggior valore da un punto di vista strettamente "umano". I personaggi sono tutti ben caratterizzati, ognuno con le sue ambizioni, i suoi problemi e le sue risorse. Davvero un mondo estremamente variegato quello che ci viene presentato e non ci viene nemmeno risparmiata la crudezza di certi episodi, il che, a mio parere, contribuisce a rendere tutto più realistico.
L'unica nota negativa riguarda la lunghezza. Forse se alcune parti fossero state sfrondate la lettura ne avrebbe giovato. In ogni caso resta un romanzo piacevolissimo.
July 1, 2010
I really, really wanted to like this book; it is, after all, about the circus, but Jennings somehow managed to suck all the life out of my favorite subject. The book is a huge time-investment - clocking in at almost 900 pages - and yet with all that length, Jennings does not manage to engender any feeling for the characters. He is an incredibly detail-oriented writer, and I could practically envision the boxes of index cards that must have contained all the factoids he included. The characters all talk like tour guides, so they aren't realistic. For a book set in the circus, there is a relatively small aamount of information about the acts. There is, however, a great deal of information about the Franco-Prussian War. Disappointing for a circus-lover, it would be a nightmare for anyone not enamored of the Big Top.
February 8, 2014
Jennings is such a disappointment! I was actually looking forward to reading this book, and getting a glimpse into the mysterious world of late 19th century Europe, along with all kinds of anecdotes, interesting connections of people and places, and above all, the inner workings of a traveling circus. The latter part was okay, but it did not make up for the horrendous historical, geographical, and linguistic errors. Province of Slovakia? Yugoslavia? And let me not start on some of the characters. While some seem to learn effortlessly the local languages, the Korean trio doesn't seem to be able to communicate their own names or the fact that they are Korean to their fellow artists. All in all, a mediocre fiction book at best, where the "historical" bit is better left unmentioned.
July 10, 2018
La edición en español Lentejuelas, es uno de los mejores libros que he leído.
Me sorprende como Gary evoluciona la historia de los diferentes personajes a través de una historia circense con tal profundidad.
En mi opinión esta obra es aun mejor que Azteca, ya que en Lentejuelas hay una mayor variedad de culturas, que incluso te hace sentir estar en varios de esos lugares.
Desde América hasta París, este libro brinda un viaje increíble, y aunque alguna que otra parte se me hizo tediosa, en general cada capítulo del libro es exquisito.
Terminaras encariñado con varios personajes y lo contrario con varios otros.
En fin, un must read para los que disfrutaron Azteca y para todo aquel que quiera vivir una gran aventura a través de las letras.
Me sorprende como Gary evoluciona la historia de los diferentes personajes a través de una historia circense con tal profundidad.
En mi opinión esta obra es aun mejor que Azteca, ya que en Lentejuelas hay una mayor variedad de culturas, que incluso te hace sentir estar en varios de esos lugares.
Desde América hasta París, este libro brinda un viaje increíble, y aunque alguna que otra parte se me hizo tediosa, en general cada capítulo del libro es exquisito.
Terminaras encariñado con varios personajes y lo contrario con varios otros.
En fin, un must read para los que disfrutaron Azteca y para todo aquel que quiera vivir una gran aventura a través de las letras.
March 24, 2014
The epic of Spangle takes us on a grand tour of two continents, from an embittered post-Civil War South, to the glittering and decadent capitals of Europe. In The Road Show we meet Zachary Edge, a Confederate soldier, on his way home at the war's close. He stumbles upon a traveling troupe, a chance encounter that is the start of an unforgettable odyssey. Edge hits the road with bawdy showgirls, roguish tricksters, and a host of colorful characters
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2017
One of the best books I have ever read in my life.
The circus is brought to life in this book, against a background of history.
The author is known for his historical fiction. This is probably his best job of creating a place and time. and setting a story.
I read this book about thirty years ago, and it still resonates.
The circus is brought to life in this book, against a background of history.
The author is known for his historical fiction. This is probably his best job of creating a place and time. and setting a story.
I read this book about thirty years ago, and it still resonates.
May 24, 2012
Another adventure brought to life by Gary Jennings. Spangle is the story of a traveling circus we join near Appomattox just after Lees surrender to Grant. We throw in out lot, and horses, with the fascinating troupe; on our way to the crowned heads of Europe.
Another tremendous work of historical research, organization, and writing.
Another tremendous work of historical research, organization, and writing.
June 2, 2010
Humorous and historical, an interesting combination, but it works well. Fun to read. I previously had no interest in circuses, but this novel was much more than about a simple circus. It takes you through Europe at a time of political unrest, seen from the eyes of travelers from America.
January 2, 2015
Aztec was amazing, Journeyer was OK, but this was boring. The characters had some promise in the beginning, but by page 500 there was so little plot that I couldn't continue. It was like reading the transcript of a 24 hour reality show.
September 6, 2007
Just when I thought Aztec was the best book I'd ever read, I picked up Spangle.
Go get it!
--Wag--
Go get it!
--Wag--
April 23, 2016
Apparently this is 3 books in one. I liked the first part of this mammoth story, but the rest I just felt lacked so much. Not that great in my opinion.
March 17, 2024
I have such a hard time deciding which of his books are my favorite. The story of this traveling circus post civil war will stay with me forever. It would make an outstanding TV series.
April 25, 2020
Ho un debole per le storie ambientate al circo, non so perché, eppure le trovo irresistibili.
E pensare che nel mondo reale i circhi mi mettono tristezza, ma da quelli della carta stampata mi lascio incantare come una bambina davanti a qualcosa di magico, luccicante e mai visto prima.
E nel Fiorente Florilegio di Florian c'è tanta arte, sapientemente dosata per ammaliare il pubblico pagante, c'è tanta forza - fisica e psicologica- e c'è tanta vita, ci sono tanti tipi di umanità, diversi per età, religione, lingua, razza, sesso, capacità.
E c'è lui, Florian, il cui vero nome nessuno conosce, che ha avuto almeno quattro mogli, una parlantina eccezionale e che dirige, ascolta, consiglia e che tiene unita la compagnia. Lui la cui massima è "affrontiamo i problemi man mano che si presentano".
Nei sei anni in cui si svolge la storia sotto il tendone passano tantissimi personaggi : acrobati, domatori, cuoche, sarte, nani, truffatori, ingegneri, ballerini, criminali e persino una nobildonna russa.
Qualcuno rimane, qualcun altro resta, molti perdono la vita.
Ma la compagnia accetta tutto quel che accade con quella saggezza di chi sa che è il rischio del mestiere e che, comunque, lo spettacolo deve andare sempre avanti.
Questo libro racconta le avventure del Florilegio, del suo partite con quattro o cinque elementi dagli Stati Uniti fino al suo arrivo a Parigi (passando per l'Italia, l'Austria, l'Ungheria, la Russia e la Francia) con una vero e proprio e gruppo di artisti, preceduti più che dall'avant-courrier, dalla loro fama.
Racconta le loro storie, i loro dolori e amori, i colpi di fortuna (e diciamocelo, Florian è sempre molto, molto fortunato,ma la bravura di Jennings è tale che, pur essendo Florian al limite dello sfacciato, è comunque credibile) e dei tanti imprevisti.
Ogni fatto, ogni spettacolo serve per conoscere meglio quel mondo e le sue regole.
Sembra un mondo parallelo, a parte. E forse è per questo che riesce a passare quasi del tutto indenne tra la guerra civile americana, prima, e tra quella franco-prussiana poi. E a ripartire, anche quando Florian vede le redini a Zachary Edge ( Bellissimo il rapporto tra Edge e Florian: quanti bellissimi dialoghi, quanto confronto tra loro, quanti spunti di riflessione per noi lettori!)...perché "the show must go on", come dice la celebre canzone dei Queen.
E allora via, verso nuove avventure, verso nuovi orizzonti,pronti a piantate i paletti!
Ho adorato viaggiare con questo gruppo di persone. Questa bizzarra famiglia sgangherata, ma divertente.
Ci sono personaggi che ho amato moltissimo come Autumn Auburn la funambola, compagna di Edge da Livorno in più fino all'Austria.
E Edith Coverley (in arte Clover Lee) che sognava di sposare un ricco nobile europeo.
Maggie Harp, la zingara veggente.
Ma Florian resta il mio preferito!
E ci sono personaggi che mi hanno disgustato ( il Terribile Turco:sono stata felice quando, finalmente è uscito di scena; Pepper e Pablo, e così via) o che ho trovato poco incisivi (Abdul su tutti).
4,5 stelle.
Non 5 perché, forse, è troppo lungo. Un alleggerimento lo renderebbe ancora più godibile.
E perché ad un certo punto diventa prevedibile e non si fa in tempo ad affezionarsi ad un personaggio che, puf!, se ne va o muore. Un po' come ne "il trono di spade". Sono stata tentata di tenere il conto dei morti, feriti e non pervenuti!.
Una delle cose che ho preferito è il concetto che, nella grande famiglia circense, ognuno per quanto diversio, strano, brutto o indefinibile, può essere un artista, può emergere perché ha delle doti. Florian nella sua lunga carriera e per diretta esperienza lo sa. Ognuno è unico e porta le sue qualità.
Un altro punto di forza del romanzo è dato dalle descrizioni accurate delle città dove il circo si esibisce (provate a googlare qualche hotel, caffè, luogo, e vedrete che per la maggio parte sono esistiti.). Se amate i romanzi storici - occhio però che qui la storia viene accarezzata dal tendone e poco di più se si eccettua l'ultima parte dove addirittura il circo funge da spia per lo Zar- fa per voi.
Alla fine, poi, credo d'aver trovato la risposta al perché io amo i circhi ed è stato proprio Florian a darmela:
"il circo è proprio questo, Obie, un ampliamento dei limiti del possibile, una sfida alle strettoie della banalità, la realizzazione che l'impossibile può essere possibile" .
Munitevi di pazienza, di voglia di mettervi alla prova e preparatevi a scostare la tenda per assistere ad uno spettacolo sensazionale. A cui, se vorrete, potrete prendere parte. Piccola come chi stacca i biglietti, o grande come quella della cavallerizza o del domatore di bestie feroci.
In ogni caso sarà il vostro ruolo e sarà necessario.
Come nella vita.
Alla prossima!
E pensare che nel mondo reale i circhi mi mettono tristezza, ma da quelli della carta stampata mi lascio incantare come una bambina davanti a qualcosa di magico, luccicante e mai visto prima.
E nel Fiorente Florilegio di Florian c'è tanta arte, sapientemente dosata per ammaliare il pubblico pagante, c'è tanta forza - fisica e psicologica- e c'è tanta vita, ci sono tanti tipi di umanità, diversi per età, religione, lingua, razza, sesso, capacità.
E c'è lui, Florian, il cui vero nome nessuno conosce, che ha avuto almeno quattro mogli, una parlantina eccezionale e che dirige, ascolta, consiglia e che tiene unita la compagnia. Lui la cui massima è "affrontiamo i problemi man mano che si presentano".
Nei sei anni in cui si svolge la storia sotto il tendone passano tantissimi personaggi : acrobati, domatori, cuoche, sarte, nani, truffatori, ingegneri, ballerini, criminali e persino una nobildonna russa.
Qualcuno rimane, qualcun altro resta, molti perdono la vita.
Ma la compagnia accetta tutto quel che accade con quella saggezza di chi sa che è il rischio del mestiere e che, comunque, lo spettacolo deve andare sempre avanti.
Questo libro racconta le avventure del Florilegio, del suo partite con quattro o cinque elementi dagli Stati Uniti fino al suo arrivo a Parigi (passando per l'Italia, l'Austria, l'Ungheria, la Russia e la Francia) con una vero e proprio e gruppo di artisti, preceduti più che dall'avant-courrier, dalla loro fama.
Racconta le loro storie, i loro dolori e amori, i colpi di fortuna (e diciamocelo, Florian è sempre molto, molto fortunato,ma la bravura di Jennings è tale che, pur essendo Florian al limite dello sfacciato, è comunque credibile) e dei tanti imprevisti.
Ogni fatto, ogni spettacolo serve per conoscere meglio quel mondo e le sue regole.
Sembra un mondo parallelo, a parte. E forse è per questo che riesce a passare quasi del tutto indenne tra la guerra civile americana, prima, e tra quella franco-prussiana poi. E a ripartire, anche quando Florian vede le redini a Zachary Edge ( Bellissimo il rapporto tra Edge e Florian: quanti bellissimi dialoghi, quanto confronto tra loro, quanti spunti di riflessione per noi lettori!)...perché "the show must go on", come dice la celebre canzone dei Queen.
E allora via, verso nuove avventure, verso nuovi orizzonti,pronti a piantate i paletti!
Ho adorato viaggiare con questo gruppo di persone. Questa bizzarra famiglia sgangherata, ma divertente.
Ci sono personaggi che ho amato moltissimo come Autumn Auburn la funambola, compagna di Edge da Livorno in più fino all'Austria.
E Edith Coverley (in arte Clover Lee) che sognava di sposare un ricco nobile europeo.
Maggie Harp, la zingara veggente.
Ma Florian resta il mio preferito!
E ci sono personaggi che mi hanno disgustato ( il Terribile Turco:sono stata felice quando, finalmente è uscito di scena; Pepper e Pablo, e così via) o che ho trovato poco incisivi (Abdul su tutti).
4,5 stelle.
Non 5 perché, forse, è troppo lungo. Un alleggerimento lo renderebbe ancora più godibile.
E perché ad un certo punto diventa prevedibile e non si fa in tempo ad affezionarsi ad un personaggio che, puf!, se ne va o muore. Un po' come ne "il trono di spade". Sono stata tentata di tenere il conto dei morti, feriti e non pervenuti!.
Una delle cose che ho preferito è il concetto che, nella grande famiglia circense, ognuno per quanto diversio, strano, brutto o indefinibile, può essere un artista, può emergere perché ha delle doti. Florian nella sua lunga carriera e per diretta esperienza lo sa. Ognuno è unico e porta le sue qualità.
Un altro punto di forza del romanzo è dato dalle descrizioni accurate delle città dove il circo si esibisce (provate a googlare qualche hotel, caffè, luogo, e vedrete che per la maggio parte sono esistiti.). Se amate i romanzi storici - occhio però che qui la storia viene accarezzata dal tendone e poco di più se si eccettua l'ultima parte dove addirittura il circo funge da spia per lo Zar- fa per voi.
Alla fine, poi, credo d'aver trovato la risposta al perché io amo i circhi ed è stato proprio Florian a darmela:
"il circo è proprio questo, Obie, un ampliamento dei limiti del possibile, una sfida alle strettoie della banalità, la realizzazione che l'impossibile può essere possibile" .
Munitevi di pazienza, di voglia di mettervi alla prova e preparatevi a scostare la tenda per assistere ad uno spettacolo sensazionale. A cui, se vorrete, potrete prendere parte. Piccola come chi stacca i biglietti, o grande come quella della cavallerizza o del domatore di bestie feroci.
In ogni caso sarà il vostro ruolo e sarà necessario.
Come nella vita.
Alla prossima!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2019
In all of Gary Jenning's other major historical novels, there is usually a portion where the plot is put on hold for sightseeing: Mixtli's journey through northern Mexico in "Aztec", Marco Polo's through south-east Asia in "The Journeyer", and the trip to Scandinavia in "Raptor". Spangle is essentially an entire novel of that, further watered down by a third-person perspective rather than the first-person viewpoint we're used to getting from this author. On the other hand, there's a pleasantly lighter tone on this outting and the degree of detail is as rich as ever.
Its subject matter didn't grab me when I read all of his other major novels some twenty years ago, and it was a job to find a copy of it now. It begins with the conclusion of the American Civil War in 1865 and it's an easy novel to get into, aside from how everyone seems to be an etymologist. There's enough fascinating circus information and colourful characters to keep the story going until the plot emerges: Florian aims to raise his circus to preeminence among the greats, eventually to play in Paris and win the acclaim of the circus' most discerning audience. Along the way I fully anticipated the usual non-PC weirdness that Jennings is known for, and predictably all of the trigger warnings you can think of apply. Clover Lee is the novel's first sore point, a girl of 13 or 14 years with the sexual confidence of someone twice her age. The Chinese acrobats are literally treated as less than human, although there's eventually some comeuppance. These and other instances could be dismissed as versimilitude, although I do think there's pretty clear evidence that Jennings believed homosexuality is a choice.
Jennings compensates for his peccadillos with a stellar ability to recreate time and place. He travelled with several circuses to make this novel happen, and I expect he must have visited every location described in the United States and across Europe. The story highlights several landmarks that I wasn't familiar with such as St. Patrick's Well, the chain bridge of Budapest, and a number of different palaces. One of the characters has a line that I'm sure is Jennings' own: the desire to learn everything possible about a place he visits, with especially an eye for the little-known. For the historical elements he had to be well versed in the American Civil War, slavery, steamships, the unification of Italy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, contemporary military arms, etc. Circus details are very much of their period, from the setting up and taking down of a circus tent to training the animals, to the seemingly endless number of ways a circus company can be improved and expanded upon and the variety of acts it can feature (or could at the time). This book also had me looking up period songs, recordings from calliopes, and details about historical figures like Ella Zoyara (whom even Wikipedia has never heard of) and Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie.
I've been away from Jennings for a couple of decades and frankly I've missed him, so nostalgia had a role here. But if you are an established Jennings fan who generally knows what to expect, this is worth the tracking down (beginners should start with "Aztec", and judge if YMMV). I enjoyed this very much as a light summer read, noted flaws and all, and it makes a fine ode. I could imagine the author as a child during the Depression who found reprieve from life's humdrum at the circus, investing him with a wonder that never left him. A dearth of contenders makes it faint praise, but this may be the best novel on the topic - or at least the most informative - that you're ever likely to read, supposing that you can find it.
Its subject matter didn't grab me when I read all of his other major novels some twenty years ago, and it was a job to find a copy of it now. It begins with the conclusion of the American Civil War in 1865 and it's an easy novel to get into, aside from how everyone seems to be an etymologist. There's enough fascinating circus information and colourful characters to keep the story going until the plot emerges: Florian aims to raise his circus to preeminence among the greats, eventually to play in Paris and win the acclaim of the circus' most discerning audience. Along the way I fully anticipated the usual non-PC weirdness that Jennings is known for, and predictably all of the trigger warnings you can think of apply. Clover Lee is the novel's first sore point, a girl of 13 or 14 years with the sexual confidence of someone twice her age. The Chinese acrobats are literally treated as less than human, although there's eventually some comeuppance. These and other instances could be dismissed as versimilitude, although I do think there's pretty clear evidence that Jennings believed homosexuality is a choice.
Jennings compensates for his peccadillos with a stellar ability to recreate time and place. He travelled with several circuses to make this novel happen, and I expect he must have visited every location described in the United States and across Europe. The story highlights several landmarks that I wasn't familiar with such as St. Patrick's Well, the chain bridge of Budapest, and a number of different palaces. One of the characters has a line that I'm sure is Jennings' own: the desire to learn everything possible about a place he visits, with especially an eye for the little-known. For the historical elements he had to be well versed in the American Civil War, slavery, steamships, the unification of Italy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, contemporary military arms, etc. Circus details are very much of their period, from the setting up and taking down of a circus tent to training the animals, to the seemingly endless number of ways a circus company can be improved and expanded upon and the variety of acts it can feature (or could at the time). This book also had me looking up period songs, recordings from calliopes, and details about historical figures like Ella Zoyara (whom even Wikipedia has never heard of) and Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie.
I've been away from Jennings for a couple of decades and frankly I've missed him, so nostalgia had a role here. But if you are an established Jennings fan who generally knows what to expect, this is worth the tracking down (beginners should start with "Aztec", and judge if YMMV). I enjoyed this very much as a light summer read, noted flaws and all, and it makes a fine ode. I could imagine the author as a child during the Depression who found reprieve from life's humdrum at the circus, investing him with a wonder that never left him. A dearth of contenders makes it faint praise, but this may be the best novel on the topic - or at least the most informative - that you're ever likely to read, supposing that you can find it.
March 22, 2023
This book really feels like three in one: part novel, part travelogue, and part circus review. From the ruins of the post-Civil War Virginia, Jennings takes readers on a panoramic journey through 1860s Europe, following one circus troupe's journey from the very bottom to the very top and back again. I had to keep a running list of all the characters and their stage names because the author really doesn't hold back. Each chapter is full of new performers constantly stepping in and old ones meeting consistently gruesome ends, so don't get too attached to anyone. While this prevents too many of them from getting complete character arcs, the circus as a whole almost becomes a character, with the tent and the animals and the spotlights constituting its parts. The segments of the book covering Italy and Hungary are particularly delightful, while the Russian part tends to drag a bit, but this is the cost of the wonderfully detailed accounts of each city they visit (when the book leans toward travelogue). However, all of the scenes dealing with the performances are riveting, and I at least felt like I had a front row seat to the acts. The vivid accounts of complicated trapeze maneuvers and tightrope walks and elephant acts are breathtaking at times, and i actually found myself laughing out loud for some of the clown acts. Due to the length of time covered in the book, Jennings alternates with intimate accounts of the day-t0-day running of the circus caravan, while glossing over months and even whole seasons at other times, so the dialogue can come off a bit awkwardly at times, and he probably leans a bit too much into advertising the polyglot nature of the characters (we get it, they're from all over). On the other hand, as a reader familiar with some of his other work I was expecting a nonstop parade of tragedy; while this one certainly has that in spades, it's cut by a constant stream of humor that makes this book a much different experience. Be prepared to learn more about the circus than you ever wanted to know, because the whole thing is jam-packed with lingo and lore. As much as the author's celebrated research skills are on full display here, though, the real star was in my opinion what one of the characters annoyingly dubbed "tent-show philosophizing." Every so often one of the characters stops to ponder or pontificate on the nature of spectacle and the transience of life. I find these to be by far the most moving passages, especially when realized during a particular circus act. They contemplate their mortality and meditate on just what exactly illusion means, and every character's death receives the same epitaph (though the book can be said to end on a somewhat more hopeful note, Jennings can't help but remind us that even as we reach the last page, we must bear in mind that they're all dead now too). Finally, Spangle brings a rather nuanced perspective to the experience of reading about Confederate characters. They're neither entirely the ignorant villains so many of us are used to seeing them as, nor are they the uniformly gallant heroes of Southern lore. They occupy every position in between, and while making no bones about their hatred for the Union army, they also seem to recognize the pointlessness of the war, and have no problems befriending and defending the many black characters in the book. I suspect the author, a lifelong Virginian himself, may have drawn many of these characters and their anecdotes from his own family's history, and the very particularly southern speech they exhibit (as well as the liberal use of ebonics) can only come from someone with a personal experience of it. If you need an escapist joyride that will still stop and make you think, this is the book for you.
February 15, 2020
Given to me as a gift and one that I very much enjoyed. Spangle is a historical fiction novel about a traveling circus in the late 1870's. The story starts in the United States at the surrender of the Confederacy and the end of the Civil War. Two, now former Confederate soldiers began their trek home and meet a circus on the road. The circus had been trapped in the south for the duration and now that the war has ended they have begun their travel northward to perform again with eyes on travelling to Europe.
Talked into travelling with the circus for a while the two former soldiers tag along and are soon talked into joining the circus by the charismatic circus owner and the journey ahead. What a great journey it is, from the war torn eastern US to Europe, Italy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, Russian and France. There is a lot to be learned about the actual historical people and places they visit but as interesting as this is you get a great lesson on what a circus of that time was like and how they operated from their own language of their craft, to the animals and acts and audiences. The circus when we first meet it is rather small, worn out, and a rag tag group but as makes its travels it grows into a true professional act. Many characters come and go, some with triumph and some with tragedy. A wonderful tale.
The first 25-30 pages were a bit of a chore for me to get the story started but after that the narrative caught its stride and it was a great read. There are a lot of characters in the book and sometimes I would find myself trying to sort out who was who so a guide of characters would have been nice, but were I to re-read it I would take some notes to make my own guide. I also found myself looking up places on the map where the circus was and the historical sites, people, and actual events that were occurring as the circus made its travels. This "research" of my own doing only added to the story.
Talked into travelling with the circus for a while the two former soldiers tag along and are soon talked into joining the circus by the charismatic circus owner and the journey ahead. What a great journey it is, from the war torn eastern US to Europe, Italy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, Russian and France. There is a lot to be learned about the actual historical people and places they visit but as interesting as this is you get a great lesson on what a circus of that time was like and how they operated from their own language of their craft, to the animals and acts and audiences. The circus when we first meet it is rather small, worn out, and a rag tag group but as makes its travels it grows into a true professional act. Many characters come and go, some with triumph and some with tragedy. A wonderful tale.
The first 25-30 pages were a bit of a chore for me to get the story started but after that the narrative caught its stride and it was a great read. There are a lot of characters in the book and sometimes I would find myself trying to sort out who was who so a guide of characters would have been nice, but were I to re-read it I would take some notes to make my own guide. I also found myself looking up places on the map where the circus was and the historical sites, people, and actual events that were occurring as the circus made its travels. This "research" of my own doing only added to the story.
April 9, 2024
Spangle is an excellent book. This book is a TOME and starting it was daunting, but once you get to the end you wish there was another 1,000 pages. This is a book about a civil war veteran who joins a circus in order to make a living. To watch this circus go from the “mud show” it was in the antebellum south, to being on of the greatest circus shows in Europe is such an incredible experience.
My only complaint is that Jennings can sometimes overwhelm you with so much historical detail that it becomes dry reading, especially in the latter part of the book, but as a die hard history nerd I didn’t mind. In fact there is much historical fact to be learned from this book, I had absolutely zero knowledge of the Austro-Prussian war and the Franco-Prussian war before reading this. Not to mention the amount of detail he gives you about the circus and its inner workings, from the setup of the big tent, to the circus slang, you feel as though you are also apart of Florian’s Flourishing Florilegium of Wonders.
It’s a classic Gary Jennings book, the characters are so fleshed out that their personalities jump off the page, and Jennings’ ability to describe the setting in such a way that he literally transports you there is as evident here as all his other works. As you travel through Europe with the circus you can really feel the differences between each country, and Jennings’ incorporation of native words and cultural mannerisms in the dialogue further exemplify those differences.
Oh and the ending is absolutely perfect. Overall it’s not as great as Aztec (few books are) but it is classic Jennings and well worth the read.
My only complaint is that Jennings can sometimes overwhelm you with so much historical detail that it becomes dry reading, especially in the latter part of the book, but as a die hard history nerd I didn’t mind. In fact there is much historical fact to be learned from this book, I had absolutely zero knowledge of the Austro-Prussian war and the Franco-Prussian war before reading this. Not to mention the amount of detail he gives you about the circus and its inner workings, from the setup of the big tent, to the circus slang, you feel as though you are also apart of Florian’s Flourishing Florilegium of Wonders.
It’s a classic Gary Jennings book, the characters are so fleshed out that their personalities jump off the page, and Jennings’ ability to describe the setting in such a way that he literally transports you there is as evident here as all his other works. As you travel through Europe with the circus you can really feel the differences between each country, and Jennings’ incorporation of native words and cultural mannerisms in the dialogue further exemplify those differences.
Oh and the ending is absolutely perfect. Overall it’s not as great as Aztec (few books are) but it is classic Jennings and well worth the read.
September 22, 2021
"Myself, I should much prefer an optional Hell to an obligatory Heaven."
Spangle follows a hardscrabble traveling circus several years across the globe. Starting at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, the story takes you to Maryland and across the Atlantic to Italy, Austria, Hungary, Russia, and finally, France during the Franco-Prussian War and the rise and fall of the Paris Commune. Due to its many locations, Jennings did not miss a beat to incorporate many historical characters.
I picked up Spangle because I truly enjoyed another Gary Jenning novel, Aztec. Like Aztec, Spangle is an immense, immersive read, with a cast of dozens upon dozens of colorful, remarkable characters. But unlike Aztec, Spangle is more than meandering and unfortunately repetitive. At nearly 1,000 pages, Spangle is not a book as much as it is a sprawling epic. Its underlying theme is about the tendency of the human spirit to trudge along regardless of the certainty of loss.
I really enjoyed reading about the circus animals and the "carny life" experiences of its troupe. That said, Spangle was much more verbose than it needed to be. Too much of a good thing is sometimes just "too much."
Recommended for avid readers, folks who enjoy solid, third-person character development, and historical aficionados.
Spangle follows a hardscrabble traveling circus several years across the globe. Starting at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, the story takes you to Maryland and across the Atlantic to Italy, Austria, Hungary, Russia, and finally, France during the Franco-Prussian War and the rise and fall of the Paris Commune. Due to its many locations, Jennings did not miss a beat to incorporate many historical characters.
I picked up Spangle because I truly enjoyed another Gary Jenning novel, Aztec. Like Aztec, Spangle is an immense, immersive read, with a cast of dozens upon dozens of colorful, remarkable characters. But unlike Aztec, Spangle is more than meandering and unfortunately repetitive. At nearly 1,000 pages, Spangle is not a book as much as it is a sprawling epic. Its underlying theme is about the tendency of the human spirit to trudge along regardless of the certainty of loss.
I really enjoyed reading about the circus animals and the "carny life" experiences of its troupe. That said, Spangle was much more verbose than it needed to be. Too much of a good thing is sometimes just "too much."
Recommended for avid readers, folks who enjoy solid, third-person character development, and historical aficionados.
February 16, 2018
Dies ist ein historischer Roman über die Abenteuer eines Zirkusunternehmens im letzten Drittel des 19. Jahrhunderts. Die Reise beginnt in Amerika, nach dem Ende des Bürgerkrieges, wo der Zirkus "Florians florierendes Florilegium" als kleine Klitsche unterwegs ist. Dann geht die abenteuerliche Reise über das Meer nach Italien, Österreich, Bayern, Wien, Ungarn, Russland und bis nach Frankreich. Unterwegs stoßen neue Artisten und Helfer dazu. Leider gibt es für meinen Geschmack recht viele Todesfälle und z.B. die Liebelei mit einer realen adeligen Person finde ich etwas übertrieben. Insgesamt hat mich das Buch aber sehr gut unterhalten. Ich fand es schön und abwechslungsreich. Vor allem die blühende Fantasie des Zirkusdirektors Mr. Florian und die gelegentlichen Gaunereien haben mir viel Spaß gemacht. Auf etwas mehr als 1.000 Seiten bekommt man einiges geboten!
August 14, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much. Jennings is very readable. This book reflects the flavor of Circus life against the backdrop of late 19th century America and Europe. It is a sweeping saga, difficult to put down. Note: if you are a nit picker about history you might get caught up in criticizing the accuracy, as so many reviewers do. If you are a prude, this book is not for you. Otherwise read it and enjoy.
November 11, 2019
Very very good, incredible details and explores the post civil war and war in Europe via a traveling circus... at time the 780 plus pages can be a chalenge... read with patient...renewed 3 time from library... also this completes most major works from Gary Jennings...thank you and rest in peace .
January 25, 2020
An opus at over a thousand pages. A great story. The only problem I have is the near end of the book. I got quite tired of reading about the war in France. The characters were all realistic. I read slow, so this took a several weeks commitment, but well worth it.
February 23, 2021
De Gary Jennings, una novela sobre la historia de un circo a través de la segunda mitad del siglo XXI, después de la Guerra de Secesión y su llegada a Europa, es un excelente libro con personajes entrañables.
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