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The Second Mrs. Ringling
She stepped into the spotlight and said, “I do!”
How could the vivacious young socialite Emily Haag Buck resist the pursuits of the Circus King, John Ringling? His larger-than-life persona and all the trappings of his vast wealth – a mansion on Sarasota Bay, his art museum, a fleet of luxurious vehicles and a private railcar—dazzle her.
The thirty-year age difference? And the fifty-thousand-dollar loan he coaxes from her? She tamps down any hesitation. After a whirlwind romance, Emily becomes the second Mrs. Ringling in December 1930.
But trouble soon follows as they begin their marriage in , Ca d’Zan, John’s sumptuous estate in Florida.
John’s deceased wife Mable’s presence is everywhere, and Emily struggles under Mable’s shadow, from the pillowcases she sleeps on to the garden she’s expected to tend.
As John’s empire teeters, he insists on acquiring more art for his museum while stubbornly relegating Emily to financial ignorance. Arguments erupt. Bills go unpaid. When John’s health deteriorates, his nurse Ida disrupts their already shaky marriage.
As troubles mount, Emily grapples with John’s dishonesty and betrayal, all the while seeking to evade the public scrutiny she endures as the second Mrs. Ringling.
Based on historical documents and with a healthy dash of “what if”, this novel follows John and Emily from Park Avenue to the terrace of Ca d’Zan, and peeks behind the closed doors of this celebrated couple of the 1930’s.
How could the vivacious young socialite Emily Haag Buck resist the pursuits of the Circus King, John Ringling? His larger-than-life persona and all the trappings of his vast wealth – a mansion on Sarasota Bay, his art museum, a fleet of luxurious vehicles and a private railcar—dazzle her.
The thirty-year age difference? And the fifty-thousand-dollar loan he coaxes from her? She tamps down any hesitation. After a whirlwind romance, Emily becomes the second Mrs. Ringling in December 1930.
But trouble soon follows as they begin their marriage in , Ca d’Zan, John’s sumptuous estate in Florida.
John’s deceased wife Mable’s presence is everywhere, and Emily struggles under Mable’s shadow, from the pillowcases she sleeps on to the garden she’s expected to tend.
As John’s empire teeters, he insists on acquiring more art for his museum while stubbornly relegating Emily to financial ignorance. Arguments erupt. Bills go unpaid. When John’s health deteriorates, his nurse Ida disrupts their already shaky marriage.
As troubles mount, Emily grapples with John’s dishonesty and betrayal, all the while seeking to evade the public scrutiny she endures as the second Mrs. Ringling.
Based on historical documents and with a healthy dash of “what if”, this novel follows John and Emily from Park Avenue to the terrace of Ca d’Zan, and peeks behind the closed doors of this celebrated couple of the 1930’s.
534 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 18, 2022
The Second Mrs. Ringling
Imagining what life was like as the second Mrs. Ringling was fascinating. The story flowed well and I felt sympathy for Emily as well as disdain for her lifestyle during the Depression. While a fictional story, the novel was well researched.
Imagining what life was like as the second Mrs. Ringling was fascinating. The story flowed well and I felt sympathy for Emily as well as disdain for her lifestyle during the Depression. While a fictional story, the novel was well researched.
March 2, 2022
A delightful look at some real-life history. Circus king John Ringling married Emily Buck after the death of his beloved first wife, Mable. In a nutshell? Things did not go well!!
April 8, 2022
great read
I loved learning about Emily and Sarasota in the 30’s. This book was well written and a really fun read
I loved learning about Emily and Sarasota in the 30’s. This book was well written and a really fun read
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March 20, 2022I cannot wait to read this book!
December 24, 2022
An excellent book about Emily Haag Buck; the second wife of John Ringling, who is rarely ever mentioned here in Sarasota or anywhere! The book describes a troubled marriage right from the start as Emily is constantly compared to Mable. Emily is wealthy in her own right and lends John $50,000 which he never repays. He looses controlling rights of the Circus to his sister-in-law, doesn't pay his personal bills or household bills which forces Emily to pay them out of her own funds. John suffers from diabetes which he ignores and suffers from high blood pressure, heart issues and wounds that do not heal. Nurse Ina becomes more than a nurse to him in multiple ways, as they plot a divorce against Emily. John Ringling is NOT the astute businessman he was claimed to be.
A great informative read!!
A great informative read!!
November 4, 2023
Brosnahan’s fictionalized account of Ringling’s second marriage to Emily Haag Buck is a bit of a conundrum. The book paints Ringling as an arrogant, blustering showman, and Emily as the picture of grace and class. However, when I heard Brosnahan speak about her book, she continually mentioned how Emily was persona non grata in Sarasota, the home of Ca d’Zan, Ringling’s famous estate, yet in the book Emily is a very sympathetic protagonist. I don’t know which story is true, but am glad that Emily finally was able to get out of her marriage to Ringling and enjoy happiness with another.
February 27, 2023
This is a story of a celebrity of the 1920s and 1930s who married a second much younger bride while not finished mourning his beloved first wife. It is very much a manual about how NOT to treat a second wife. While John Ringling was and still is a very big deal in Sarasota, Florida and the greater circus world, this book will appeal a very wide audience.
December 8, 2022
Loved this book! Poor Emily. Well written and a page turner
October 24, 2024
Did anyone edit this book? The grammar and sentence structure was abominable! I thought the information I learned and did not know was very interesting, though. If you have extra time and are interested in the Ringling Brothers Circus and what actually went on and can stomach all the grammatical errors, then give it a read. Otherwise, it’s not worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews