Great Farini: The High-Wire Life of William Hunt

by Shane Peacock

Genres: Biography, History, Canada, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1996

About the author

Shane Peacock was born in 1957 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, one of four brothers. He attended school in the northern town of Kapuskasing, Ontario, before attending university, where he studied History and English literature. A biographer, journalist, and screenwriter, he is also the author of eighteen novels, a picture book and three plays, and has been won and/or been nominated for numerous awards including two Arthur Ellis Awards for crime fiction, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for historical fiction, the Violet Downey Award, the Libris Award, seven times honored with Junior Library Guild of America selections, and has been on three shortlists for the Canadian Children's Literature Award, and one for the Governor-General's Award. His books have been published in 20 languages in 18 countries. He and his wife, journalist Sophie Kneisel live in Cobourg, Ontario and have two daughters and a son.

Series:
* The Dylan Maples Adventures
* The Boy Sherlock Holmes
The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim
The Seven Series

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2008): Eye of the Crow
The Arthur Ellis (2013)
The Violet Downey Award
The Libris Award
The Geoffrey Bilson Award
The Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award
Anne Izard Storyteller Choice Award
Junior Library Guild of America Selection (7 times)
Governor-General's Award (shortlist)
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award (shortlist)

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Great Farini • Shane Peacock 1995 • Penguin Books 1996 • Book 15 of 52 •
•
•I was surprised I didn't know who William Hunt was. The Canada born high wire performer invented safety nets and the Human Canon Ball act.
•Shane Peacock does a terrific job telling his story with suspense, drama and exciting danger. Which you need for such an adventurous pioneer of the circus.
#bookstagram #52booksin52weeks #performerlife
#circus

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the good fortune to meet the author, Shane Peacock, at a recent library event. He had arrived early and I got to have lunch with him and chat in the empty library. I had just finished reading the Great Farini, and was fascinated by the level of detail Shane had put into it. I was interested in how he had researched the book and how long it had taken him to write (10 years!). He said he became obsessed with learning everything he could about this little know Canadian treasure and documenting his story for everyone to read. He even learned to walk the tightrope (albeit not over Niagara Falls like Farini). His total immersion in this man's life makes the reader want to go along for the ride as the amazing tale of Farini is uncovered.

Shane is known for writing both the YA crossover series Boy Sherlock Holmes and installments in the Seven Series, but I hope he writes more for Adults as well.

[Dan Duguay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A Canadian who should be celebrated for his innovations and his amazing and exciting life. I bought many copies of this book and handed them out to friends whom I thought should read it.

[Sonja Livingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars are not so much for the flourish or the writing as the well-organized information and the reality of Farini's life. A thorough and thoughtful biography.