CARNIVAL: The Wide, Wierd, Wonderful World Where Carnies Meet the Marks - and Everyone Goes Away Happy.

by Arthur H. Lewis

Genres: Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published March 23, 1970

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When i was in junior high I found this book at our public library. I stayed in the car reading it while my mom went in the mall, and stayed up all night reading it. (I told my mom I was sick the next day, so I could stay home). I was certainly too young to be reading some of this book's content at that tender age.

Recently found a copy and reread it, and it was just as great as I remember. You ARE there with the carnival and its colorful atmosphere.

Highly recommend this book...just not for an eleven-year-old kid.

[Tom K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a way of life that is vanishing. Published in 1970 when the traveling carnival was already in a bad way. There is something appealing about the people who Arthur Lewis writes about. It's a
life that does not have time for prejudice or squeemishness. They are all square pegs that couldn't or wouldn't fit into society's round holes. Some are there by choice, others by necessity. Their society is mostly closed to anyone not in the business. Mr. Lewis manages to get a bit closer than we could expect but there is always a feeling that he and we are not seeing any more than they want us to see.
Still. it's an interesting book on a subject that most people would give a second thought to.

[Tom C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in the early 70s around the time it was originally published and loved it. It has sit on my bookshelf for all these many years. I see a few of you are currently reading it. Maybe it's time to reread it again.

[Cathel1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors vivid descriptions put me there with him on his tour of traveling carnivals and side shows. His interviews of the owners and performers made them come alive for me.