Battle for the Big Top: P. T. Barnum, James Bailey, John Ringling, and the Death-Defying Saga of the American Circus

by Les Standiford

A New York Times bestselling author writes the untold story of three Golden Age titans and the confrontations, cutthroat business strategies, and eccentric personalities that built the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus.




Millions have sat under the "big top," watching as trapeze artists glide and clowns entertain, but few know the captivating stories behind the men who shaped the circus.

Battle for the Big Top is the untold story of the battles of the three circus kings--James Bailey, P.T. Barnum, and John Ringling-all vying for control of the vastly profitable and widely influential American Circus.



New York Times bestselling author Les Standiford recreates a remarkable era when a community-without regard for gender, creed, or nationality--would be captivated by the spectacle created by three diversely talented individuals who transcended the ordinary. Ultimately, the rivalry of these three men resulted in the creation of an institution that would surpass all intentions and, for 147 years, hold a nation spellbound.




Filled with details of their ever-evolving showmanship, business strategies, and personal magnetism, this Ragtime-like narrative will delight and enchant circus-lovers everywhere.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, American History, Audiobook, Adult, Business

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2021

About the author

Les Standiford is a historian and author and has since 1985 been the Director of the Florida International University Creative Writing Program. Standiford has been awarded the Frank O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, a Florida Individual Artist Fellowship in Fiction, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction, and belongs to the Associated Writing Programs, Mystery Writers of America, and the Writers Guild.

Reviews

[Doug Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

How many of you share my memories of attending an entertaining performance of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey "Greatest Show on Earth"? Sadly, there are many of a certain age who will never have that opportunity.

This book takes the reader through the history of the circus concept in general, and specifically, the evolution of consolidation among the multi-car (as they were often measured) trains that traversed the U.S. After fighting to maintain relevancy among a culture of animal protectiveness, the circus as it used to be no longer comes to town.

I found this work to be very easy to digest and quite interesting in terms of popular culture that became the event of the year for the small towns visited by the various circus operators during the days pre-dating television, and to a lesser degree, movies.

Author Les Standiford has done his homework, and covers a broad swath of circus history in this relatively easy-to-read book. After completing the final page, I can say that I have learned a great deal more than before I started. That's what I look for in non-fiction works.

[Maggie Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating to read about the circus through the generations and lenses of some of the biggest names associated with it. Having just finished Violet & Daisy, part of the Vaudeville circuit, earlier this week, the similarities of scouting, organizing and mobilizing entire communities continues to amaze me. Though fire, money woes, and accidents plaque the subject, Les Standiford's writing offers readers the ability to visualize history perfectly due to his descriptions. My personal memories of the circus are completely reminiscent of the later chapters with using large established arenas rather than erected tents for visitors to be entertained.

"The trend in technology in recent years has been to push individuals into greater and greater electronic isolation. It seems safe to assume that in the future a sizable portion of our entertainment will come directly into our homes where we will view them as solitary pleasures. As a result, there will be fewer and fewer opportunities to come together with others to create a special group known as an audience." -Ernest Albrecht

[Cole Plunkett]

Not to be dramatic, but this book is kind of life changing for me. Not because it’s perfect (I have plenty of critiques) but because it’s the first circus history book I’ve ever read, and I never knew how necessary it was for me to explore my circus roots. It has inspired me to write a time travel historical fiction book that explores this history, but, more importantly, it has made me feel proud that my name is etched into the history of the world’s oldest form of family entertainment. For now on, I’ll be reading as many circus documents and history books as I can. So thank you, Les Standiford, for your impact on my life.

[Fi]

blatantly pro-circus propaganda, which is possibly the funniest kind of propaganda. Standiford is clearly very fond of the topic and covers a lot of interesting ground (george washington’s cousin put on the first circus show in the united states?) but can’t quite bring himself to condone any aspect of the circus or its founders even when discussing slavery or the mistreatment of performers and animals. overall, an interesting and accessible read for those of us who don’t regularly think about the circus, if underwhelming in its criticism and occasionally overindulgent in its prose.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advance copy from NetGalley

This was a fascinating history of the three major circus leaders in America: the Ringing brothers, James Bailey, and P.T. Barnum. I’ve been interested in reading more circus history since I read Blue Men and River Monsters, and the ghost walk tours I’ve done in Baraboo have also piqued my interest. I learned a lot, and I was astounded at these men who went back and forth from being rich, losing everything, and finding their way back to success again. The sheer number of animals and personnel and the elaborate productions they did was almost inconceivable to me. I went to a few circuses when I was a kid, but it was way past the time of the excesses described in this book.

A few of the more potentially disturbing aspects of the circus were mostly glossed over —the freak shows, the menageries, and acts involving people of color, at least one of whom was bought and exhibited (falsely) as the ancient nursemaid of George Washington. I don’t think all the “freaks” were mistreated, nor do I think the animals always were (although I have my worries about how they were acquired and replaced so easily when so many of them died in fires or on sea voyages gone wrong), but I have a hard time believing that everything was fine for them. They weren’t the main focus of the book, I guess, but I’d be curious to read more about the experiences of the people who were brought in as acts based on their bodies, race, or health conditions. I think some, like “Tom Thumb,” really benefitted from the circus, but I’d like to know more.

I liked how the author periodically would pause to give the reader a sense of the time period, where he’d note other moments of history that were happening and talk about wages, inventions, and cost of common items. It was a good way to put things in historical context for readers who aren’t well-versed in American history. The chapters were quite short, enough so that I changed my chapter a day approach to two chapters a day. I didn’t love the citation style and would have preferred footnotes or endnotes over the messier conversational style of the notes at the end of the book. I was glad he provided a separate bibliography.

I think my favorite portion of the book was about the Ringling brothers, starting with kind of a circus equivalent of a lemonade stand when they were kids, using whatever was to hand for acts, including the family goat, billed as a “hippocapra.” It charmed me that friends and neighbors paid to see their show, and it amazed me that they built on it year by year to become one of biggest circuses in the country.

A couple of goofy mistakes really hit my brain with a clang, and I wonder if they’ll be changed by the time the book comes out. One was referring to one of the circuses performing “scenes from the Bible,” like Ben Hur’s chariot race, and the other was referring to E.B. White as the “composer” of Charlotte’s Web. Maybe that last was intentional—if weird—word choice, but the Ben Hur Bible thing was just irritating. Since neither was the focus of his research, it didn’t make him lose a lot of credibility with me, but it still bothered me.

That aside, I still say it was definitely worth a read for people interested in circus history. Overall, I liked it quite a bit, and it made me curious to read more.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was absolutely enchanted by the overview of an essential entertainment Americana. I remember when I was in preschool I had a birthday party at the circus in the Mississippi Coliseum, and that was the last time I thought about the circus until about a year or so ago I saw a small tent in the parking lot of the local outlet mall. Next time I do see one, this book makes me want to go gather up my boys and participate in a long tradition of circus-viewing.

[Brynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overall, this is actually a very good book - informative an interesting. I wanted to give it 4 or 5 stars.

But. Then I got to the chapter about how PT Barnum purchased a "160-year old" slave, Joice Heth, to act as his first exhibit.

This chapter could have been written in a way that acknowledged what happened without condoning it. It wasn't. At every opportunity, the author went out of his way to soften and excuse the fact that Barnum purchased a human being to use as a showpiece. He claims that while Barnum "in essence" participated in the slave industry (there's no essence about it!), this is really just a twenty-first century view, and Heth considered herself a performer, and Barnum her manager. Not that Barnum paid her or anything. He owned her.

He also said that when Barnum first heard about Heth, he knew he had to go see such a fascinating "creature." When Heth died, Barnum has a surgeon perform an autopsy to discover how old she actually was. No acknowledgement of the fact that, unless Heth expressly allowed it ahead of time, this was a gross violation and another example of Barnum treating her like an object. The author also includes a "funny" anecdote about one of Barnum's associates claiming that Heth was still alive, and they had just stolen another Black lady's corpse to do an autopsy on. But that was just a "practical joke" played on the newspaper.

If they ever come out with an edition of this book where this chapter is edited to talk about Black people like people, then I might give it more stars, because like I said, the rest of the book is fascinating. I wondered whether I should give some credit in my rating for that, but ultimately decided that if an author talked about Jews (like me) the way this author talked about Black people, I would be horrified if people rated it highly because they could ignore the anti-Semitism. And so likewise, I cannot ignore the racism here.

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

My grandma's family was from Ringling Oklahoma which was name after John Ringling the founder of Ringling Brothers Circus, which is why I picked up this book. and I am very glad I did. I loved learning the history of the different circuses and the people who made them. This book is perfect for those who love circuses, history and/or American history. I will be telling my mom and dad they need to pick this book up ASAP. Thank you Netgalley and PublicAffairs for letting me read and review this wonderful book. I will be buying myself a hard copy of this book very soon.

[Hal Brodsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read that really tells the story of the American Circus from its early days through Cirque du Soleil instead of focusing on a single individual (ie John Ringling or P.T. Barnum).

Standiford is a straightforward documentarian, although he includes a punchline here and there.

The book does start off slow with discussion of ancient Roman and European Circuses, but the fun really starts when the circus comes to America, although it focuses primarily on each of the major personalities and does not bog down in the details of circus life.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2017, The Greatest Show on Earth finally came to a close. The Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus played its last show and turned out the lights for good. Author Les Standiford writes about the history of the circus in America in this book. He writes about the inauspicious early beginnings of circus type acts in colonial America, where fast horse racing or trick horses were the name of the game. It was surprising to learn that PT Barnum was actually a latecomer to the circus world and the elephant that hooked up PT Barnum with James Bailey. There are a lot of such surprises in this book, much like, well, a circus! Although I did enjoy reading this book, it did get sorta dry and dull in it's last act. So for that reason I am giving it four stars. Still a pretty good book though!

[Pz4real · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! Read a lengthy biography of P.T. Barnum last year and this was an excellent follow up- taking that story and adding in the additions of Bailey and the Ringling Brothers. Fascinating the culture around the entertainment world at the tune of the century. And after all, who doesn’t love a day at the circus!

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fascinating! I barely remember a small circus coming to my city when I was young. My father was a big fan of the circus so this book made me fondly recall his love for the institution. This was nicely detailed, not overly so. It certainly made me nostalgic for a simpler time gone by. The book also had interesting (mostly negative) thoughts on how we consume entertainment in this digital age. Graded is rounded up from 4.5 stars.

[Mark Mathes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read about the circus and the incredible people who created and sustained this institution with roots in places like Baraboo, Wis., Peru, Indiana and Sarasota, Florida where many of the Ringling Brothers found winter quarters and weather much more enjoyable for themselves and their performers. The story opens with the tragic Hartford big top fire and shifts into brief histories of the circuses back to Roman days. Stick around for the main events: the battles by PT Barnum, James Bailey and John Ringling. These segments are well-told. The entire book is inviting, sometimes personal with the author who loves the circus, and well-researched with photos, and back notes.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 21% - I had to abandon this book at 21% and here is why. First of all, there was a lot of circus history, which was awesome. BUT the big things for me were:
1) I'm 1/5th of the way in, and the three big names have barely been mentioned. I just finished reading about James Bailey, but there were only mere mentions of P.T. Barnum and John Ringling so far.
2) The very clinical and monotone writing style just didn't keep my interest.
3) There's a lot of USA-specific history, and I'm Canadian so I just don't care much about US history.
4) This book wasn't what I thought it would be, it was a lot of history and facts, and I thought it would be more about Barnum, Bailey and Ringling, and how they were competing in the circus industry. It's of course important to know the history of it all, but I'm just not a history buff and I'd much rather have gotten a quick introduction to how the concept of a circus got started, how they travelled, things they endured, then move right into the 3 main "Ringmasters" and more stuff about them.

I did find the history about the animals, and how the circuses had to travel, and how they setup interesting, so I may come back to this in the future and try to continue it.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am very interested in circus history but this book, while very thorough, is just trying to do too much. It is so long and boring and follows various tangents that get more and more tedious. Long descriptions of architecture or paintings that Ringing bought. Endless mention of how many train cars a circus had. But lacking a lot of details about the performers, the acts, etc. Animal rights controversies are mentioned once or twice as a slight annoyance. There is so much happening here that I did not need to know and far too little about the things I did want. A chore to finish.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t mind this one except it felt like the author was trying a bit too hard to excuse highly questionable practices of the past (i.e.: literally owning a Black woman to exhibit as a ‘freak’). Basically just saying “yeah, it sounds weird to us, but back then it was fine” isn’t going to cut it. There’s no reason why a book can’t detail an institution while also recognizing their egregious misdeeds.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Brilliant....gives you the Inside scoop on not only P.T. Barnum's life ....but the Bailey family and the Ringling Brothers Circus before and after the mergers and Acquisitions.

[Bookreporter.com Biography & Memoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

In BATTLE FOR THE BIG TOP, bestselling author Les Standiford turns his attention to the rise, glory days and eventual fadeout of the American circus.

Unlike the circus tradition rooted in ancient times that glorified the majesty and power of the state, America’s traveling shows took on the “rough-edged, sky’s-the-limit character of a developing nation,” becoming a phenomenon in the late 1800s and growing with the country. With a main tent known as the “big top” set up somewhere just outside of town, the circus brought excitement, wonder and dreamy thrills to children and any adult willing to be a child at heart.

A handful of entrepreneurs came by the showman’s life gradually, even accidentally, creating the American circus business through competition and collaboration. The legendary P.T. Barnum got his start when offered a chance to “buy” a Black woman, Joice Heth, who was said to be 161 years old. The transaction took place at a time when “owning” African Americans was acceptable, though it went against Barnum’s actual principles. After the successful exhibition of Heth and other “freaks” like General Tom Thumb and Chang and Eng Bunker, Barnum sold his name and game to James Bailey, then operating a small, profitable traveling circus. When the Ringling boys (all five of them), who had been charmed by a traveling troupe as children, came into their own with a large, nationally known circus cavalcade, they were able to buy the Barnum and Bailey show and name.

By the mid-20th century, the circus simply was the Ringling Brothers. Featuring world-renowned acrobats the Flying Wallendas, beloved clowns like Emmett Kelly (aka Sad Sack), and exotic wild animals kept under control by “trainers” like the famed Clyde Beatty, the Ringling Brothers brought much-appreciated excitement to big cities and isolated American small towns.

Until television. In 1956, the last big top folded, and the circus moved indoors to city arenas where it could perform year round and be captured on camera for homebound viewers. In 2017, even that form of circus show came to an end, as it is no longer an attraction to customers in the cyber age.

Notably, Standiford’s engaging, well-researched story begins with a tragedy: a circus fire in 1944 that, like the Great Depression and two world wars, could have brought the business to its knees. But it survived those and many other challenges. Now it will be a memory, mixed perhaps, because of the sometimes questionable nature of its amusements. But there are still a few active shows extant, the best known being the oft-televised Cirque du Soleil. And, as Standiford makes clear, the underlying principal of circus entertainment persists: a hearty helping of wonderment and a frisson of fear, accompanied by a small dollop of droll, much-needed humor.

Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came along in an era when the circus was a major production that anyone would feel lucky to see. I grew up incredibly poor, and my family never could afford to take us, but one year when I was five years old my grandparents took all of us grandkids when they came to Dallas. Being as young as I was I can only remember figments: tons of clowns crawling out of a tiny car and completely blowing my mind, trapeze artists doing death defying stunts without a safety net beneath them, and were up so high I found myself focusing on the tiny workers in the rafters instead of the artists themselves. The whole experience left me spellbound until a man got shot out of a cannon during the finale, the unexpected boom scaring me so much that to this day I have a horrible fear of anything that has a sudden, loud noise. Still, the memories are some that will be with me forever, and I will always be grateful to my grandparents for taking us.

Reading Battle for the Big Top brought back this distant memory that I haven't thought about in a long time. I've never been one that had a passion for the circus, but I've always had a deep respect for all of the work, time, effort, and dedication it must take to put on such a production. What I never realized was how deep the history of the circus goes!

Battle for the Big Top goes into incredible detail, almost to the point of overwhelming a reader that knows literally nothing about the circus, but I appreciate all of the time and dedication it took to have such a detailed and meticulously researched novel. My one caveat with this is that there were moments where it was very textbook, having a monotone "just giving the facts" feel, which did make parts difficult to get into, but the facts themselves fascinated me and motivated me to keep reading. Seeing the evolution from a small side show to a production that enraptured and captivated audiences for decades was thrilling to read, especially finding out what went on beyond the tent.

An at times overwhelming, yet comprehensive text, Battle for the Big Top left me in awe and with knowledge I didn't previously know, and left no stone unturned. If you've ever wanted to learn about the circus and the major players behind it all, this is your book!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from PublicAffairs Books through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've attended a few circuses in my lifetime, and it's kind of sad that such a once-dominant institution could be slowly dying off as it has been. After the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey company shuttered in 2017 there was a big question as to whether the circus could even work in the United States anymore considering all of the entrainment options, concerns over animal rights, and general antiquated feeling most have when talking about it. Battle for the Big Top - P.T. Barnum, James Bailey, John Ringling, and the Death-Defying Saga of the American Circus by Les Standiford outlines the rise and fall of the industry and attempts to give a glimmer of hope for what could come.

Les Standiford attended the final Ringling Bros. show on May 21, 2017, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, marking the end of 146 years of continued programming. He talks about what that meant to the industry and compared it to the infamous "Hartford Circus Fire" of 1944 that nearly ended the circus nearly 80 years prior. That fire killed almost 200 people out of a crowd of thousands, and it was far from the last controversy to face them. The majority of the book fills in the gaps in between, describing the lives and business practices of many of the big names involved in the Circus industry including the ones you'd expect such as Barnum, Bailey and Ringling. The book chronicles the move from "Mud Shows" to selling out large arenas, and how they battled competition such as movie theaters and theme parks.

If anything this book is a nostalgic look back at the rise and fall of one of America's most beloved institutions, and perhaps a plea to save the entire industry from a total collapse. Personally, I feel there will always be room for the circus in some form, albeit likely in a smaller more intimate way. One has to look no further than something like a Renaissance festival to see acts like jugglers, clowns, and fire eaters still hanging in there, and there are numerous "alt circus" shows all over the country. The era of a circus selling out Madison Square Garden may be gone, but I feel as if it's far from dead. Overall, this was a fun and well-researched book that taught me a lot about something I had somewhat taken for granted prior. If you are a history buff, or If you are hot of the heels of watching something like The Greatest Showman, I'd recommend this book as a solid companion.

[Cat]

Just finished watching movie of P.T. Barnum. Over my lifetime I have been to not only the Greatest Show, but other smaller circuses that passed through my town. I never understood the attraction to them, I hated to see the animals in the shows knowing they were mistreated (kept in cages was wrong in my young mind. I never imagined anyone would treat them even worse until I was older. Never liked zoos either.) Still, if humans wanted to do what THEY were doing (Cirque de Soleil) good for them. That doesn't mean I haven't found the concept of a circus to be interesting. I have read many books on the subject and it's founders. Some academic, some about curiosities, histories, and entertainment. This one is all about the competition, sensationalism, and entertainment of the circus. Those who have never been can now read about them as a now gone entertainment (at least the ones with animals!). And all of us can marvel at the spectacle it once was. Ringling Bros did produce an amazing show., just a somewhat sad one. As for the under the canvas circuses, I've always thought they were a fire hazard, especially back in the day when everyone smoked and would think nothing of smoking during performances. Seriously, hay or straw everywhere, canvas tent, wooden bleachers, and teens and adults would be lighting up! Stuff of nightmares.... But for everyone who remembers the shows, and for those who will never experience them, this is an entertaining book. Loads of info. Circus lovers would enjoy this as a gift. Kudos Les Standiford!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

Historical fiction can be hit or miss sometimes, even if the subject matter is especially interesting. I'm happy to say that this one is a hit for me. About the major players in the circus and the historical origination, there was enough entertainment and information here to satisfy just about anyone.

In this book, the origins of the circus are briefly explored and then the real meat of it begins; Barnum, Bailey, and the Ringling Brothers. The reader is taken through how each circus leader got their start and the many iterations, buyouts, competition, etc. each is faced with. It came as a surprise to me that ultimately, all of these shows were under the same ownership, despite having distinctive names and seemingly in 'competition' with each other. Which is not to say they weren't ever in competition, but I didn't realize how far back that actually was.

Each of the narratives is interesting, has poignant facts, and little known history about each circus. It definitely wasn't the dry history that you can sometimes get that is all fact but not engaging. I devoured this book pretty quickly as it was an enjoyable read while still being informative. And since the circus is a subject that holds many people's hearts and imaginations, it was relieving to see it covered in such an expansive way.

If you like the circus and are interested in its history, this is definitely the book for you!

Review by M. Reynard 2021

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reading copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. I absolutely love a good circus story. This book is filled with great tales of a bygone era. Author Les Standiford gives us a good look at the greatest showman, P.T. Barnum, as well as Michigan native James Bailey who teamed up with Barnum who was in his seventies and Bailey in his thirties. When Barnum died Bailey took over and then along came the five Ringling Brothers. One thing all of these men had in common is that they were self-made entrepreneurs who started off with nothing. In today's world, the circus is looked down upon for many reasons, but in its hey day, it was more than entertainment--it was an event. When the circus came to town, businesses and schools closed. Residents turned out in droves and everyone enjoyed the show. Many kids (like James Bailey) ran away to join the circus in the hopes of finding a better life. In retrospect, the circus did provide a living for many who otherwise would have had nothing. General Tom Thumb is a fine example of a young man whom Barnum took under his wing and eventually made a partner in his business. This book was well-written and well-researched and filled with entertaining anecdotes, as well as fascinating circus lore. If you ever wondered how the circus began or why the Ringling Circus Museum is in Sarasota, Florida--this book will give you the answers. A great read!

[Hermione · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It follows the development, and through to the denouement, of the Circus in the US, which has so many developments and twists and turns. And also, of course, the ups and downs in fortunes of the three largest names in the business. I loved the anecdotes and the accessible language of this book. There's a lot of really good stories and colourful lives and people. The author acknowledges and explores some of the controversial aspects of the business, but if you're looking for deeper history of animal or human rights, it's not really within his purview, as it's more a broad and not overlong history. It felt well researched, nicely written and concise without being light. It makes me want to read more by this author, or look deeper into some of the stories or people he introduced me to. If you're interested in the circus, and it's such a fascinating subject, this is a nice read. I liked it.

As a note, the book covers some deaths of people and animals as part of the history. It's not salacious or sensationalized at all, which is good, and it's parr for the course with non-fiction, but it is sad and some might appreciate knowing ahead of time, perhaps.

Thank you to the publisher for the copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own honest thoughts.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, providing a history of “The Greatest Show” through biographical narratives of its three main protagonists: P. T. Barnum, John Bailey, and John Ringling. The author, historian and novelist Les Standiford, delivers both a business history of the show and an entertaining overview of the Circus in America. The book focuses on The Greatest Show and its various predecessors, but also passes on the broader story of the American traveling circus. Though encompassing the 200+ year history of the show, from its beginnings in early 19th century zoology displays through to its final performance in 2017, the book concentrates on the golden age of late 19th and early 20th century touring. Standiford brings together in his chronological story the many different acts, the performance trends, and the (sometimes seedy) business practices of this entertainment firm. The entrepreneurs who led the circus, Barnum, Bailey, and Ringling, are the main characters, though they are joined by a wide array of circus talent and entertainment managers. A great book for understanding specialized entertainment as a business.

[Randee Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

In BATTLE FOR THE BIG TOP, Les Standiford recounts the history of the circus in North America. The focus on the book is on the three major circuses that were owned and operated by James Bailey, P.T. Barnum, and John Ringling. Standiford gives an overview of how each of the three major circuses came to be and how/why they wound up merging together to create Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Overall, BATTLE FOR THE BIG TOP was an interesting read. I’ve always been interested in the history of the circus, and I feel that I learned a great deal from this book. Yes, some of the history can be disturbing—especially how the circus animals were treated and the ways in which some of them died either in fires or drowning during overseas voyages. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of the circus or of James Bailey, P.T. Barnum, and John Ringling in particular.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a fascinating, insightful look at the growth and collapse of the circus in the US.

Standiford tells a gripping tale of the history of the circus and how the three major players, the Ringling Brothers, John Bailey and PT Barnum, eventually combined to form what we all knew as the standard "Greatest Show on Earth." A good behind the scenes look at what goes into putting on a circus and how it was a huge event when "the circus is coming to town."

But over the years, due to animal rights activists and more importantly, the growth of movies, TV and now digital entertainment, the circus declined in popularity and now there are only a handful left that perform locally. Cirque de Soleil became what the new circus was all about.

I knew absolutely nothing about the circus and so I found this book to be so informative and insightful. It was a pleasant change of pace history to read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my earliest childhood memories is of going to the circus. I was enthralled with the pageantry, the animals, the performers - I was hooked. That led to a fascination with the great man himself, P. T. Barnum and his museum. When I saw that Les Standiford had written a book about the world of the circus and its impact on our culture, I had to get a copy. I was not disappointed in the least.
This is so much more than the history of Barnum and Bailey and the Ringling Brothers. I was captivated by the history of the circus including Europe and our own Colonial period, 1792. I read way past my bedtime and would have been happy to have a book in my hands that was twice as long. I enjoyed every page.
My thanks to the publisher PublicAffairs and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Kaarin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you are on vacation and you buy and read the perfect book for that moment. Picking this up after visiting Circus World in Baraboo, Wisconsin, was one of those times. A fast-moving and fascinating discussion of the glory days of the American circus when it was the biggest event of the year, the most popular form of entertainment in the nation. Before radio or TV or even the major sports. An almost unimaginable phenomenon for its time - hard to even put myself into the mindset of a person living an ordinary life in a small town and then this insanity arrives for a one-day stand with elephants and sword-swallowers and clowns and gilded circus wagons and calliopes and massive spectacles depicting the Fall of Rome or Samson and Delilah or whatever. Mind would be completely blown. Anyway this book hit the spot.

[Ralphz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The spectacle of the American circus, told primarily through the lives Barnum, Bailey and Ringling, is the focus of this interesting book.

From exhibitions in Rome to the World's Fairs to "museum" shows, this traces the development of the circus, and then the traveling circus, and then the great American circuses.

Through devastating fires, bankruptcies, thieves, and more, the circus became the primary exhibition in America, elephants, clowns and all. Eventually, with mergers and buyouts, the Greatest Show on Earth comes to be, and hits its pinnacle in the 1940s and '50s. Entertainment, however, changes, and the circuses struggle to keep up. Cirque du Soleil is one attempt to stay relevant.

Finally, under pressure from activists, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus closes shop, and an era ends.

But, since the book was published, apparently the Barnum and Bailey show has tried to start again, this time without animals. I'm curious to see what happens.