Beneath the Big Top: A Social History of the Circus in Britain

"A valuable and illuminating read, shedding a lot of light on the political, economic and technological factors that have driven circus evolution" (The Circus Diaries).

Beneath the Big Top is a social history of the circus, from its ancient roots to the rise of the "modern" tented travelling shows. A performer and founder of a circus group, Steve Ward draws on eyewitness accounts and contemporary interviews to explore the triumphs and disasters of the circus world. He reveals the stories b...