The Center Ring

Spangle #2

by Gary Jennings

Full of the wildly colorful characters Gary Jenning is famous for, the epic saga of Spangle takes us on a grand tour of two continents, from the Reconstruction South and a North which has remade our Union, across the ocean to an ancient union reestablished, and the glittering capitals of Europe. In The Center Ring we follow ex-confederate officer Zachary Edge and his uncommon crew, who have now traveled across the Atlantic. their first stop is the turbulent new kingdom of Italy, then it's on to Austria, where Zachary befriends the beautiful Austrian Empress Elisabeth. While encountering some of the most memorable faces in history, Edge finds himself faced with both unforeseen dangers and moments of extraordinary passion, as the tour takes us all across a Europe being remade.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Literary Fiction

624 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

Gary Jennings led a paradoxically picaresque life. On one hand, he was a man of acknowledged intellect and erudition. His novels were international best sellers, praised around the world for their stylish prose, lively wit and adventurously bawdy spirit. They were also massive - often topping 500,000 words - and widely acclaimed for the years of research he put into each one, both in libraries and in the field.

Jennings served in the Korean War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal- a decoration rarely given to soldier-reporters- and a personal citation by South Korean President Syngman Rhee for his efforts on behalf of war orphans.

Where the erudition came from, however, was something of a mystery.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/garyje...

Reviews

[Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

What started out so promisingly in Roadshow, the first volume in this 19th-century circus saga, took a serious wrong turn into the Land of Melodrama in The Center Ring. In my review of the former, I noted that Jennings' prodigious research was not data-dumped into the story but in this one it is everywhere. Even worse, much of it is delivered in the clunky, traditional way in which one character asks about something so another can tell us about it in great detail. I actually found this book more interesting for that research; it illuminates life in newly-reunified Italy and the ever-decadent Austro-Hungarian Empire. As for the doings of the characters in the circus, they are of an all-too-predictable style of bed-hopping. Too many of their problems are solved by the end of that chapter. This book could have (and should have) been much shorter.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A re read from ancient times, loved it more than before, well worth the reading time.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story! I was a bit disappointed in the end of The Roadshow, as it just trailed off to let this book begin. (Yes, I understand this was ONE book at first; however, I couldn't find a copy of Center Ring for a couple of years and hadn't wanted to order it online since I prefer to save on shipping and wait for a local one to crop up when it comes to books.)

This picks up perfectly and keeps the story flying along with one plot twist after another. Like some of Jennings other books there were a few characters I just didn't like even if I was supposed to. Nothing against his writing, but I think I have a different personality preference in people than he did. Again, true to his style, there were sex scenes (not all romantic, more abusive in nature), and characters I was fond of were killed off.

That said, I seriously enjoyed this book. It is comparable to Water for Elephants, but without the sappy romantic focus and a lot more raw. This is a well researched book that manages to display its facts without getting tedious to the reader.

I do wish Florin had a larger role in this storyline, I enjoyed his stronger presence in the first book a touch more.

This one did leave me thirsting for the grand finale- fortunately this time around I have a copy waiting in the wings.

[L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Center Ring" takes the reader from Italy to Russia, with stops in Austria, Germany and Hungary, providing never-before revealed vignettes of late 19th century circus life. It's written in Jenning's usual tongue-in-cheek, intellectually earthy style, with carefully researched cameo appearances of Europes "crowned heads" of the period.

Characterizations are finely drawn and compelling; I found myself feeling like I knew Florian consummate showman and owner of the Flourishing Florilegium, slimy Sir John Fitzfarris, dipsomaniac Abner Mullenax, boyishly appealing yet brawny Obie Yount, striving Sunday Simms and her over-sexed sister Monday, hard-working and loyal Magpie Maggie Hag, and the love-lorn Zachary Edge, not to mention all the carefully drawn others.

A worthy second volume.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE great writer of historical adventure fiction. Not only does Gary Jennings take you back in time to meet unforgettable characters, but he makes every moment count with mounting tension and action.

[Mike Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

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