This book, one of those mad Taschen extravaganzas, is so big and heavy that it’s almost impossible to lift. It’s mostly filled with colorful illustrations of the circus through the ages — well, from 1870 to 1950, anyway — over six hundred pages of them.  It’s the next best thing to attending a show under the big top.

This is the original 2008 printing of the book, now out of print.  An abridged version was issued in 2010, about 100 pages shorter, and smaller in size, at a greatly reduced price — available today online for around $45.  The original edition usually sells for several hundred dollars, though I got mine at a bargain for $69, including shipping.  I don’t think the bookstore I bought it from realized it was selling the out-of-print edition.

Click on the image to enlarge.

. . . ladies and gentlemen, step right up — but no crowding please . . . there’s room for all in Greenbaugh’s Majestic Circus, the Miracle Colussus! See Bap and his Congress Of Carnival Clowns, the Flying Kelly Twins, beautiful as fairytale princesses, the fearless Carl Ellenbeck and his ferocious lions, Jumbo the elephant — all appearing for your delight in three rings under the giant bog top!

In the sideshow tent more wonders await — dashing knife-thrower Roy Renaldo, The Incredible . . . savage and exotic peoples from all corners of the globe . . . freaks unlike any you have ever seen or read about!

On the far side of the midway you’ll find the cooch tent, where ladies perform startling dances in costumes that can barely be seen — gentlemen only, of course, positively no exceptions!

And it’s all yours in the romantic novella Circus, for the incredible price of only $1.49! For the Kindle or for free Kindle Reading Apps that work on almost all computers and portable devices, available here!

Step right up!  Step right up!  The show is starting now!

Circus