A glorious celebration and comprehensive look at the history of life under the Big Top!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages...step right up and discover...Circus celebrates the evolution of this glorious spectacle, from its early days of Minoan horn-vaulting and medieval street performers through its heyday in Europe and North America with P.T. Barnum and the Ringling family, to the circus of today. This remarkable book captures the magic of performance as well as life behind the scenes. Readers will discover the music, training, costumes and daily routine of circus families, as well as circus legends. They'll meet performers who have thrilled crowds around the world, turning basic routines into art. Handsomely illustrated with paintings, photographs, postcards, and even ticket stubs, this informative book provides a fascinating inside look at one of the world's most daring and dazzling entertainments.