Review: Under the Big Top by Bruce Feiler

Overview: 

 

Both a great American adventure and a rare entry into asheltered world, Under the Big Top describes one man's pursuit of every child's fantasy: running away to join the circus. Bruce Feiler's unforgettable year as a clown will forever change your view of one of the world's oldest art forms and remind you of how dreams can go horribly wrong -- and then miraculously come true.

 

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Review:

 

This book was like a performance in its own right. Feiler simultaneously guides the reader through his experience of entering the private backstage world of the circus, the stories of performers and workers, and describes the beauty of the circus performance itself. Throughout the book you are faced with the bond of family that both strengthens and threatens to tear apart life behind the bright lights. Many of the stories and secrets of the circus are things you would guess out, but what I found most surprising was the overall sense of community and stability a traveling show provides. And like few other industries, the circus presents second chances and a place for those who otherwise wouldn't have opportunities. A wonderful portrait of one of America's classic pastimes. When Feiler contemplates a tomorrow without the circus, the reader contemplates the power of a journey's end.