Mr Galliano's Circus

Mr Galliano's Circus #1

by Enid Blyton

Librarian's Note: this is an alternate cover edition - ISBN 10: 0603032885

When Mr Galliano's circus comes to town, Jimmy is very excited. He soon makes friends with Lotta the circus girl and the other fascinating circus folk. Then, when Jimmy's father is asked to join the circus as odd-job man, the little boy is delighted. Follow his adventures as he learns all about the circus, trains his very own circus dog, rescues an escaped chimpanzee and helps capture a thief. A wonderful story of circus life from one of the world's best-loved children's authors, Enid Blyton.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Adventure, Middle Grade, Animals, 20th Century

185 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1967

About the author

See also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)

Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.

Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.

Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.

According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.

See also her pen name Mary Pollock

Reviews

[Kavita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember this book from my childhood. It used to be one of my favourites and I would always take it out to read whenever my parents made pulao. Yes, I read while eating. Still do!

So Jimmy Brown is a schoolboy. He sees the circus coming to town and wishes he could be one of them. Soon enough, he gets his wish. He befriends Lotta and becomes a circus boy, driving around in a small caravan. Jimmy discovers his talent of communicating with animals and soon endears himself to the elephant, the chimpanzee, and the dogs. He also soon acquires a dog of his own, Lucky.

As a child, I loved this story. As an adult, hmmm ... I get the excitement of joining a circus. I really do! But Jimmy really seems to be a sad creature with no friends before he met Lotta. It's also really unusual that children are happy to be so uprooted from their stable lives. Two things that stands out now. One, how do Jimmy's parents get any privacy in their caravan any longer? Don't think there's going to be any little brother or sister for him any time soon! And two, are they really all right with Jimmy not going to school? This second thing bothered me as a youngster too as I was one of those weird ones who genuinely enjoyed school!

I don't quite buy how quickly Jimmy picks up circus tricks while all the others have been slaving at it since they were babies. And believe it or not, two of the dogs are named Darkie and Nigger! Even for the times, it's rather low. But all said and done, I love circus stories and this one was quite fun if you can stop thinking.

[Carrie-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books as a child... As my mum remembers too well!

I found getting to sleep really difficult as a kid. My mum used to spend so many evenings reading to me (to way past midnight!) trying to get me to sleep. The problem being that my mum has one of those natural audiobook styled narrator type of talents that meant if anything I wanted to stay up to find out what happened next!

Mr Galliano's Circus was one of my regular story time books that I absolutely adored and my mum nailed with her narration. I wanted to be in those caravans and having adventures.

I was always saddened as a kid that none of my friends had read these series of books. To me it was a bit of a travesty! How would they get by without Jimmy's mum's wonderful advice of using misfortune as a stepping stone to something better for example?

I am now enjoying reading these again as an adult. Obviously there are many things that as an adult that I now see in a different light, but the magic still reminds. The strong stories of friendship, hard work, adventures and importance of family shine throughout and will mean I will always want to go back to see what is happening with Jimmy and Lotta and pretend I am that kid again being read a fantastic story by my wonderful mum.

[Danielle McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr nearly 9 and I enjoyed this a lot! We listened on Audible.

Great characters, excellent storyline.

‘It was funny and silly and easy to listen to’ - Mr nearly 9.

My 5 year olds also enjoyed the storyline.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book from my childhood that I loved and reread to try and get my reading juices flowing again.

[Bethany Lam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this so many times and I still enjoy it so much! When I saw that Enid Blyton wrote this, I knew I had to read it. Her books always have a sense of adventure, magic, and fun.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I often see books written by Enid Blyton when I visit the children’s section of used bookstores. I had never bought one before and I thought it was about time since a visit to her home country of England is in the making. She was a prolific writer, managing to publish about 800, I don’t plan to buy all those but finding the other two in her circus series would be a fine addition to my library.
This first in her series was originally published in 1938. I have is a glossy edition from 1984.
It is a written for young readers of 6-9 years but I enjoyed this simple story too. Jimmy longs to join the circus once he befriends Lotta, and the other performers, both human and animal, when they visit his town. He actually discovers he has a way with animals.
I had very restful sleeps after reading this gentle story.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child and when I recently came accross this copy decided to give it a reread. It was originally printed in 1939 and as such one must look at it through the eyes of the time. Gender roles were more firmly defined then and racial undertones are there in the choice of names for two of the dogs in the story. Having said that, I still enjoyed rereading it. Back at the time it was written, two pounds for a weeks work was considered generous.

Within the story there are strong demonstrations of kindness and repayng bad with good. These are still good lessons for today. At times Blyton went a little overboard with her use of repetative words, but the story is geared to the Young.

[Liam Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatest book ever written.

[Pavin777 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I was 10, I must have read a million books. This was my favourite.

[ʀᴀᴇ'ꜱ ʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ · Rating 5 out of 5]

every bit as delightful and whimsical as my childhood self remembers it being!

[Brona's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Galliano's Circus was one of my favourite Enid Blyton books (the other being The Secret Island). I have no idea how many times I reread them. A conservative estimate would be three or four times each for about five or six years.

Blyton's ability to tap into the secret world of childhood dreams and wish fulfilment was extraordinary. I'm sure there would be/could be/should be a psychological study into the Blyton we love and what it says about us.

My two favourites involved running away to make a new life for yourself free of the restraints of parental figures or everyday routines. New places where you could shine and excel and be rewarded/recognised for your talents and hard work.

Mr Books' favourite Blyton as a young boy was The Adventures of Pink-Whistle. A half human, half brownie character who could make himself invisible. He spent his time doing good deeds to help others.

'Nuff said!

Rereading Mr Galliano's Circus at 48 was almost just as much of a treat for me as it was when I was eight.

Even as a child, I knew Blyton was writing fantasy. Even when, or especially when, the story seemed rooted in everyday life.

Mr Galliano's circus is a dream place to live and work.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/20...

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Galliano's Circus is an adventure story for children. It has a slightly unlikely plot scenario at the beginning. Jimmy's Brown's father, a carpenter, is out of work. Jimmy - who, I suppose, is about ten - loves animals, and spends most of his after-school hours hanging out in a circus ground, helping where he can. When the odd-job man disappears, Jimmy's father is offered a week's work, and then invited with his family to join the circus full-time.

Most of the book is about life in the circus as the Browns settle in and make friends. I found myself sympathising rather more with Mrs Brown than I did as a child, having to struggle to cook and clean in a tiny caravan and deal with a life quite different from anything she had ever experienced before. Of course she copes magnificently, as the best of parents do in children's stories.

There are some positive moral lessons interwoven in the book - about being kind, and not letting obstacles get in the way, and so on. All good stuff, and in my view one of the better-written of Enid Blyton's books. There are two sequels in the same vein.

Latest full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...

[Marchel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sebuah penggambaran kehidupan di rombongan sirkus.

Cara Enid Blyton menceritakannya dengan berganti dari narator, lalu sudut pandang salah satu tokoh, kembali jadi narator, sangat menarik.

Dan aduhhh, Mbah Enid itu suka banget menceritakan tentang makanan. Jimmy makan 3 sosis besarlah, makan ikan hering yang dibakar api unggunlah, makan selada dengan krimlah, makan kue bolu lah, Jimmy makan kue tart dengan lahap lah(waktu ditanya Pak Galliano setelah menolak Cyrano ~spoiler~). Ga lupa, waktu Sammy melarikan diri juga sempet-sempetnya ada adegan makan segala. Apelnya sungguh sedap beuh jadi lapar malam-malam. >.<

Lah kok gw jadi cerita tentang menu di dalam cerita yah?

Ini cerita tentang seorang anak biasa yang akhirnya menjadi tokoh terkenal di sebuah sirkus. Akuilah, waktu kecil dulu, kayaknya enak gabung di sirkus. Jalan-jalan trus, makan di udara terbuka, pemandangan selalu berganti.. Setidaknya itu dulu yang kurasakan.

Sangat bagus, sayang anak gw masih suka cerita komik alias cerita yang masih banyak gambarnya..>.<

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Salah satu novel koleksi awalku (nomor urut 46 di perpustakaan pribadi), jadi sah saja kalau pernah jadi favorit dan sering dibaca ulang pada masanya (karena koleksi masih sedikit sih...)

Asyiknya baca buku ini, kita bisa berkhayal seolah-olah kita menjadi bagian dari keluarga sirkus Pak Galliano, sama halnya dengan tokoh utama novel ini, Jimmy Brown, yang tadinya anak biasa-biasa saja, terus jadi ikut rombongan sirkus karena ayahnya ditawari pekerjaan oleh Pak Galliano...

[Nicola Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just had to be the first book I reviewed here. As a child, it was the first book I read cover to cover in one sitting. It's a beautifully-written story, as we expect from Enid Blyton, and very difficult to put down. Even as an adult reader, while I grow very fond of the main characters, I still can't help but feel envious of them. Fortunately there are more circus stories to allow the fun to continue.

[Gazala · Rating 4 out of 5]

The circus came to town, leaving Jimmy all excited. Too poor to afford a ticket to the circus, Jimmy is still curious about it. Soon he befriends a little girl in the circus which leads him to become a common sight amongst the circus folk. This book is a part of the series as I understand, and I've read a Blyton after a really long time.
Now, unlike usual reviews I don't have many things to say here. Reading a full length children's novel can be such a refreshing experience. In all fairness I was constantly agitated that I did not have my usual thrillers in tow- but these books are so important!
They remind you to trust life, to just take the leap and embrace life and whatever it throws at you!!! As an adult reader, I was constantly worried about one particular idea in this book- the circus itself. Most of us are aware of how brutally animals can be treated. How wild animals are caged and forced to act and perform. It's heartbreaking... So how does a book like this still hold relevance? How could I possibly give this to a little kid and tell them to read it when I know circuses can be terrible places for animals? All my worries were put to rest by how the Author who constantly reminds the readers about being kind to animals. It constantly reminds them to be gentle and shows how important it is to be caring.
Maybe, an ideal circus in an ideal world could be like this!
You sure can pick this book up to cleanse your palate of all the "adult" content you've been reading or if it's for someone little, go on and give them a copy of this wonderfully adventurous book😀

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two and a half stars for the first volume in the Circus trilogy. Blyton was famous for writing her books at speed, as well as for her involvement in animal charities; both of these trends are reflected in this book. Perhaps the story is more developed in later volumes, but for now most of the characters--particularly the adults--are two-dimensional and the story is very superficial. I know it's wish-fulfillment stuff for the young, but if you want an interesting story of kids joining the circus, I recommend Circus Shoes. At least the main character isn't a total Gary Stu; he's told that he started too late to be a good acrobat or rider, so he has to be content with being an animal trainer. Some of the skills he teaches his dog, such as walking on its hind legs and carrying a flag or parasol at the same time, are probably impossible since dogs don't have opposable thumbs, but hey, it's fiction. The main message is "be kind to animals", which is all well and good, but the situations are rushed and superficial until almost the end of the book. I also got tired of Jimmy's family's superiority toward the other circus people as "untidy and dirty". I wonder how they felt about it after a few years of having only a washbasin for the entire family to get clean in?
Whether or not I bother to look for the second volume remains to be seen. So far I'm underwhelmed.

[Zera Putrimawika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blyton mengisahkan kehidupan sirkus di tahun-tahun awal 1900. Sirkus yang identik dengan 'penyiksaan terhadap hewan', dalam cerita ini justru dikisahkan sebagai tempat di mana para pecinta hewan berada. Semua anggota sikrus Pak Galliano tidak boleh berbuat keji terhadap hewan. Ringannya narasi dan plot memang sesuai dengan sasaran pembacanya yang merupakan anak-anak. Dalam novel ini, sirkus tampak seperti sebuah profesi dan perjalanan hidup yang menarik.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading regularly with my Grandson. I chose this book because he loves Enid Blyton so much. It must be in his genes because my Mum started me off on her favourite author and its a family thing. The Famous Five have been his favourites until now, this has added another dimension to his reading and he loves it. He uses plushies to enact what I read. No children's author can beat Enid Blyton

[Elvira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 bintang.
Aku suka bagian tentang kesetiaan Jimmy terhadap sirkus Pak Galliano.

Ketika ia ditawari ikutan sirkus milik Pak Cyrano yang sangat mendunia dan akan membeli mahal anjingnya, ia tidak mau meninggalkan Pak Galliano yg telah menerimanya sejak dia belum menjadi apa-apa. Ia pun tidak mau menjual Lucky, anjingnya.

[Jesus Sivasankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read quite a lot of Enid Blyton. I've loved them all. For those of you starting out, her works would be the best place.

About this book, I read it long ago, so I don't remember much about it, except that I liked this one best among her works! The characters were more relatable I guess

[Louise Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this! There are some bits you have to take with a pinch of salt due to when this was written e.g gender roles and some of the dogs names, but other than that this book is just lovely!

[K.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jimmy is beside himself when his dad gets a job at Mr Gallianos Circus. Soon he is friends with circus girl Lotta, and all the animals too! When he gets a puppy of his very own, he is determined that they will earn a place in the ring for themselves

[Rachel Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

We listened to this as an audio book in the car - the whole 30 odd hours for the series! Twice in a row! And they wanted more! This eventful and delightful story kept my 3 and 2 year old completely absorbed the whole time.

[Velvet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like my comfort book, when I read this book as a child i didn't even know what to expect but everything in this book is so freakin perfect .I can re read this book at any point of my life and it'll cheer me up.One of the best books to exist istg with Enid's magic!!

[Christen Notrelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me want to run away with the circus and become a writer. I didn't run away with the circus!

[Ian Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood memories!

[Hilda Prabandini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel masa kecil :D salah satu yang menarikku untuk 'menekuni' dunia literasi sampai saat ini XD

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has not aged well.

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of her better ones. The story was somewhat complex, well paced, and didn't get preachy.