Just got The Adventures Great of
I loved this book set during the depression in a third rate circus, The Benizini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. The book is told through the eyes of 90 (or 93) year old Jacob Jankowski, as he recounts the events of that fateful year of 1931.
When Jacob Janowski’s parents are killed in a car accident just before his graduation from Cornell veterinary school he runs away and somehow ends up working for the Benzini Brothers circus after they learn he is almost a doctor. The harshness of both the ever encompassing depression and circus life is brought vividly to life. We meet the side show `freaks’, the stars, the roustabouts and rubes and come to care for many of them, especially Walter, the educated dwarf. The story centers on Jacob and his falling in love with the beautiful star of the equestrian show, Marlena, who is married to the questionably sane August who is the animal trainer. It also involves the wonderful elephant Rosie, who is brought in as the star of the menagerie, but seems to have her own ideas about that.
The ending is incredibly poignant and brought a smile to my face, as it brought the whole story full circle. I really loved this book.
The Great Adventures of