American Circus: An Illustrated History
The author, a graduate of Ringling Bros. Clown College and an obvious aficionado of circuses and circus lore, has written an engaging and well-researched history of the American circus. It is sure to be a valuable reference source as well as entertaining reading. It's all here: the first elephant to be exhibited in the United States, the pursuit by daredevil high flyers of the quadruple somersault, the daring and skill of Gunther Gebel-Williams, and, yes, "The Living Unicorn." This is an unabashed glorification of the circus. For a behind-the-scenes and far less glamorous account of one circus by a participant, see Kristopher Antekeier and Greg Aunapu's Ringmaster! ( LJ 10/15/89). Culhane's generously illustrated circus history is an essential purchase for all public libraries whose patrons include lovers of the circus: that is, for all of them.- Anne Twitchell, EPA Headquarters Lib., Washington, D.C.Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.