Death of a Circus

by Chandra Prasad

Death of a Circus tells the story of the Bringlebright Circus, a small fictional troupe traveling the United States in the early twentieth century, an era when circuses are falling out of favor and only the largest shows are enduring. Initially, the book follows Lor Cole, a young African American man from Connecticut who dreams of leaving behind his provincial past and making a name for himself as a high wire walker. Upon joining Bringlebright,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1597090247
• ISBN13: 9781597090247
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Red Hen Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

a fascinating look at life in a small circus

"death of a circus" explores interracial romance, animal abuse, the dangerous lure of fame, and the price of defying a system of misogyny and sexual repression, all against the colorful backdrop of a big top tent. ms. prasad's thorough research enabled her to bring to life a world with its own distinctive language, customs, and rigidly hierarchical society. as the circus train meanders about the country and through the early 20th century, the narrative shifts focus between a series of protagonists: the daring young black man who's willing to risk his life to be a star; the fiery redhead who uses her beauty and fearlessness to escape the tenements of her childhood and, fittingly, become a fire-eater; the mysterious animal trainer who isn't quite sure how to interact with humans. as the next generation of performers prepares to take center ring, the circus struggles to compete against the more powerful ringling brothers, with predictable results given the book's title. a great read, especially for anyone who's always been fascinated by the big top.