El equilibrista / The Tightrope Walker

by Steven Galloway

In Steven Galloway's Ascension the story of Salvo Usari, a Romany tightrope walker, begins where it ends: almost 1,400 feet about the streets of New York City in a fictional 1976 performance on a wire suspended between the World Trade Center towers. From this first moment, Galloway establishes a careful balance between a thrilling adventure story enriched by circus lore and ca haracter-driven tale reflecting Salvo's complex life and remarkable immigrant history.

Leaving New York, Galloway shifts to Savlo's youth in Transylvania, circa 1919. Salvo's father, Miksa, has taught his nine-year-old son the essential myths that form the Rom, or gypsy, identity, but the legends cannot prepare the boy for an abrupt tragedy, an accident at a gadje church, that leads to the murder of his father and mother and to Salvo's long separation from his brother and baby sister. Salvo climbs to the pinnacle of the mammoth church steeple, tears out his soul--flinging it towards God--and begins a wandering life. Galloway then traces the paths of the Usari siblings over the years until they are rejoined at work as a family of tightrope walkers, eventually achieving acclaim in the Fisher-Fielding circus in the United States. But even reunited the Usaris cannot escape tragedy and further death. In the end, Salvo must return to the wire alone to pacify his unquiet mind.

Galloway's execution of story and character is nearly flawless throughout, and his narrative, like Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, captures the essence of the 20th-century immigrant odyssey. But it is the blending of Romany folk tales and well-researched circus craft with this otherwise powerful narrative that defines Ascension and makes its unique contribution to literary art. --Patrick O'Kelley

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Novels, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Historical Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2003

About the author

Galloway was born in Vancouver, and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia. He attended the University College of the Cariboo and the University of British Columbia. His debut novel, Finnie Walsh, was nominated for the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award. His second novel, Ascension, was nominated for the BC Book Prizes' Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, and has been translated into numerous languages. His third novel, The Cellist of Sarajevo, was published in spring of 2008. It was heralded as "the work of an expert" by the Guardian, and has become an international bestseller with rights sold in 20 countries. Galloway has taught creative writing at the University of British Columbia and taught and mentored creative writing in The Writer's Studio, at the writing and publishing program at Simon Fraser University.

Reviews

[Penny Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart stopping opening first chapter introducing the reader to Salvo walking a high wire between the twin towers in New York. Wondered if this might spoil the book, knowing the ending, but it did not. Characters were wonderful. Loved Miksa, Salvo's father, and his ability to remain so positive despite his difficult life. He accepted the troubles that faced him and focused on the moments of good. Really interesting picture of Roma life and the conflict with Hungarian gdjaje. This conflict ultimately leads to tragedy for Salvo.

Loved the sense of family throughout the book and the manner in which they stuck together, although again this causes various tragic incidents. Salvo seeks put an Aunt who lives in Budapest having married a Hungarian gadje. For some reason Salvo almost seems to sabotage this, despite being alone in the world and has to move on. For a section of the book, Salvo is alone, developing his high wire skills and becoming the best. He is focused and determined, feeling fear on the ground but for some reason not on the wire, feeling alive and mortal.He had strange fears bearing in mind his passion for risk. Salvo was frightened of the dark (ok) and elephants (not sure why). Andras and sister Etal find refuge with the mor Roma people. Neither Salvo nor Andras are treated that kindly and always seems to be an element of suspicion because of their ethnicity. Culture is a theme of the book.

The family are reunited to some degree and Salvo falls in love. His brother, Andras and he are very different but respect each other and spend much of their lives together. Andreas stands by Salvo despite often disagreeing with him. Etal is an interesting character, self contained and unemotional but adored by her brothers.

The family become top performers within a circus. At times, the sections detailing ownership of the circus become a little dull but it is an aside. Similarly, the Roma stories are interesting but a bit repetitive.

There is a period when Salvo stops performing and a part of him seems to die as he needs it so badly. However, he is to return and it feels inevitable that there will be consequences. I loved this book. It is well written and beautiful whilst also sad. Seem to remember feeling the same about Cellist of Sarajevo which I also highly recommend.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute joy from start to finish. After the "heartstopping" first chapter, which reveals how it all ends, we return to the forests of Transylvania and Salvo's dramatic childhood with the Rom gypsies back in 1919. The story is then told quite sparsely and factually, through his orphan childhood in Budapest, his aptitude for acrobatics and learning the "wire", his time with the Fisher-Fielding circus in the US as part of a family death-defying high wire act with its inevitable twists, turns and tragedies, through to that inevitable final feat. This won't be everyone's cup of tea - the style is unusual, punctuated with the telling of Rom fables, and lacks the fleshing out of the supporting characters (I'd like, for once, for a book to be longer so that we could know more - but it wouldn't have been the same book). But I found it absolutely mesmerising - that taut, reined-in narrative, coupled with the story-telling, and the passion and excitement of his time on the wire. I loved it.

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel opens with a tight-rope walker on a high wire strung between the Twin Towers (written prior to the attacks). From the Galloway takes us to the childhood of a Roma boy and his journey to becoming a wire-walker, traveling thru Europe, America and Canada. We hear Roma stories and fables, learn a of their customs and lifestyles, and transition to the lives of circus performers.
Galloway is an author known for impeccable research and an uncanny knack for bringing to life events and characters far removed from his own. His novels are beautifully written, his characters come vividly to life and his ability to make me care about a world (the circus, high wire walkers ) that really doesn't interest me much, is astounding.
I am so impressed with this author and highly recommend this novel and all of his work!

[Marni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salvo was a young Roma in Hungary when his parents died in a fire. The fire was set by local people because a cross that his father installed on a tall steeple fell over and killed the priest. He lived by his wits until a man trained him to walk the highwire which gave him the opportunity to emigrate to America. The book follows his life and then his family who join him as tightrope walkers for a circus.

The author researched many famous highwire walkers. At times, while reading, I thought I could almost feel the thrill and terror of a walk.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Galloway's Cellist of Sarajevo and wanted to like this one as much - the writing is as beautiful and the descriptions of Salvo's wire life are amazing - as are the Roma tales. But the parts about life in the Fraser Valley on the farm, felt clunky. And Anna didn't really come to life at all. Of course, Salvo wasn't really living when he wasn't walking the wire, but what does this mean finally? As one person wrote, the blocks are all there, but it's not clear what they add up to.

[Val B-t · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belle incursion dans la vie d'un funambule à travers plusieurs époques. On y apprend des choses sur la vie des Roma en Pologne juste avant la Deuxième Guerre mondiale. Les personnages sont attachants. La traduction m'a semblé impeccable. Je pense que c'est un livre qui a passé sous le radar de plusieurs lors de sa sortie.

[Jeff Bursey]

In case you're wondering why there are no stars, I don't think much of this novel.

[Jcb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Loved it.
***MILD SPOILERS***
Wrap-around timeline. CHAPTER 1 starts at the end of the story (1976) then CHAPTER 2 jumps back in time (1919) and we progress toward the present again. Galloway throws in a twist: the story never quite arrives back at 1976. We are left to fill in the final blank of how Salvo the tightrope walker came to be in the position he is in CHAPTER 1. If you're like me, you'll want to re-read CHAPTER 1 after finishing the book to close the circle in your mind.
Most multi-generational stories drag because they change focus to characters from 2nd and 3rd generations. Ascension smartly sticks with Salvo's story throughout. Other characters come and go, sure, but we stick with Salvo.
Mercifully, being written in 2003, there is no overt political messaging in this book. No harangues about "diversity", etc. Galloway just tells us a good tale. I particularly liked when the hero begins training again in his barn; he steps out onto the wire and the world falls away...

[Myrna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me tardé un montón en leer las primeras 30 páginas porque le faltaba cierto ritmo, y de repente lo terminé en una tarde. Es increíble cómo le pasa de todo al protagonista y aún así su sentimiento más fuerte siempre fue caminar sobre una cuerda. Intensamente representado, hasta me dieron ganas de ser equilibrista (mentira)

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t like it.

Felt like I was reading the outline of what would become a much more compelling novel. Or watching a play where the actors never act, they just sit around and talk about what they do & how they feel.

Surprised, because The Cellist of Sarajevo is one of my favourite reads.

[Cali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so gripping I had to keep reminding myself it was fiction. The story unfolds in a way that makes the reader so empathetic, and almost accountable, for what happens to the Ursaris. In addition, the ending was beautifully poetic.

[Joey Gremillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended

A dark, yet engaging story. Historical fiction can be judged on its ability to peak interest in unfamiliar subjects, in this instance , the Roma (aka Gypsies). Lovely story

[alison morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! Beautifully written.

[Franziska Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did he do it? Would I have done the same? I've read the book from cover to cover and I still don't know.

[Kowanda Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very descriptive writing about a high wire walker.

[Matthias · Rating 5 out of 5]

After failing to finish Moby Dick at 50% this book was a great one. Really good and exciting, kept me hooked start to finish.

[Jane Fujiwara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an exciting premise and parts were beautifully written, but overall it missed the mark. The balance felt off.

[Den Ghez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Had me hooked in the first chapter.

[Tiah]

- Here he is timeless, one man on a wire far above it all, in a separate place. He is not free, but he is as free as he will ever be. -

- Bury me however you do. I will die standing. -

- Some people believe all animals are good. I do not believe this. I have seen an elephant stalk a man, always watching him with one eye, waiting for him to make a mistake, to get too close. And I have seen that elephant crush his enemy, and I would swear the elephant enjoyed the man's screams and the crunching of his bones beneath his feet. I see than an animal can hold evil within it, and I've no doubt of that. But most are not this way. -

- [T]he circus meant different things to different people. Some of the performers were there because they were good at something that only the circus would pay them to do. Others were there because they had always been there, the children of performers or workers; they knew of no alternative way of life. Still others were there because that was all that was left for them, the circus being the only place that would give them a warm meal and a job. Some, like her, had come running from elsewhere. -

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first chapter of this book grabbed me by the heart and didn't let go.

It tells the story of Salvo, a wire walker who is attempting his greatest feat, walking the wire between the World Trade Center towers. I was practically breathless reading that first chapter.

After that first chapter the book goes back to Salvo's childhood in Transylvania. He is a Rom, a gypsy and as such deals with some unfairness and some prejudice that lead to his becoming an orphan. He is left to his own devices and shortly thereafter discovers the wire. Salvo is only alive when he is walking the wire and the scenes of him performing are amazing.

As we see his life play out, the importance of the wire to who he is and how he lives becomes more and more evident. Everything in his life is related in some way to his death defying feats high above the crowds.

Even though some of the plot twists were a little predictable, they seemed to fit and make sense.

I'd like to try more of Galloway's work, he writes beautifully.

[Diane Schuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

rising above fears, circumstances ...

I first heard the first chapter read on CBC radio and was hooked! I had to buy and read it.

From the first page to the last, the story of Salvo, a Romanian gypsy cum tight-rope walker, engages the reader with suspense, wonder, loss and survival by rising above his fears and his 'tight-rope' journey through life.

Galloway writes a beautiful novel full of folk tales, fresh metaphors, and above all a sense of beauty in storytelling.

The first chapter stands alone so well that I read it to my group of seniors -- they were captivated by it, just as I was.

The cast of characters adds depth and originality to this fine novel. Relating to the essence of the title: imagine a man who only feels alive at fearsome heights where death is a wobble away, or where a moment of inattention can mean death or disaster. From there, ascension begins.

This is one of those books that, once read, you'll want to begin all over to experience the literary journey.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had such potential for magic, and yet it often felt so mundane. Here you have a story centered around the Usari family, and in particular, Salvo-- a man who walks the skies for a living. And while we are told time and time again that this man IS special, you never really feel anything special when reading.

I know Steven Galloway is a brilliant story-teller from his other works. And while his other stories have burrowed under my skin, making me feel all the feels one can feel, this one did not. Overall, I just didn't care all that much about the characters, or what was going to happen. I very seldom felt that excited rush to turn the page and figure out what happens next.

That said, this is not a bad book. You certainly haven't read a plot like this-- one that revolves around a family of gypsies who struggle to find their own slices of contentment in this world. I would not try to dissuade anyone from reading this book, but I know I'll never read it again.

Ultimately, I have very high expectations of Mr. Galloway, and this high-walking book fell short.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feature of this novel that struck this reader immediately is that it has some brilliant passages of description that sit within an overall text that has rather a simple style, as if it is itself a longer version of one of the Roma folk tales that pepper the text. The first exemplary description is the opening chapter, which describes in extraordinary and convincing detail a high-wire walk between New York's twin towers. But there are other examples throughout the novel. It is difficult not to be hooked by the masterful first chapter and want to read how and why the book's hero arrives at this point. The reader who does this will not be disappointed. It is a long and convincing story despite some unlikely events. Osborne's detailed research into the lives and stories of the Roma and also into the experiences of and skills needed by high-wire performers pays dividends, throwing fascinating light on both and at the same time producing a gripping tale.

[Karen Swain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and found it very difficult to put down so, although I am currently working 12 hour days, I have read it in a little over 2 days. I found the story of Salvo Ursari fascinating and the author totally draws you into the story. At one point I even became quite snappy with my husband because he wanted to discuss something with me and I felt that I was not able to put the book down!

This is the second book by Steven Galloway which I have read (I also read the Cellist of Sarajevo) and I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Galloway works hard to weave a richly-threaded fabric of a story. The first third of the book is riveting. Focus is lost with circus politics, melodrama of secondary (and not the most well-defined, and too many) characters. The book takes a long time to wrap up, and does so in an "epilogue"-ish sort of way. This left me unsatisfied. If you're of a certain age you'll certainly be reminded of the Wallendas...I can't discern why he opens with a WTC walk - and the end of a life - when the rest of the story is curiously disconnected from any WTC significance.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It unusually starts with the end and in the next chapter it returns to the beginning. The story is beautifully written with rich characters and gripping drama. It tells the life story of a high wire walker, starting with a walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre and then tracing his life, from his Romany roots in Hungary, through his circus life and the trials and tribulations of his family. It flowed so well that I found it quite difficult to put down - a perfect book for entertainment and relaxation. Highly recommended.

[tamarack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the audio books podcasted out by CBC's Between the Covers in 2008. I am somehow totally inept with subscribing to podcasts, and prefer to wait and download them myself, so I would often let the episodes accumulate until I had a few to listen to at a time. This story follows a roma tightrope walker around Europe and the US in the mid-1900s. It was a good story, though I wonder that perhaps I liked it best because I had it read to me... which is a huge pleasure.

[Helen Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Cellist of Sarajevo and was pleased to find that this earlier novel was of equally high quality. It is a quirky, unusual, sometimes shocking story. I found the ending really quite moving.
My only complaint was the unnecessary detail given to a very minor part of the story - surrounding the ownership of the circus. I feel this could have been covered far more briefly and not detracted so much from the main story.

[༺Kiki༻ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:

✱ Water for Elephants

Listened to on CBC Radio's Between the Covers podcast.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather grim book in many ways The Roma fables are richly done and woven into the book but the main characters seemed flat. I still found it rewarding enough to finish in several sittings as the writing is well done, put together block by block like Legos, sad Legos and not really sure what they built!