BATTLE FOR THE BIG TOP P.T. Barnum, James Bailey, John Ringling, and the Death-Defying Saga of the American Circus

Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages, author Les Standiford expounds upon the rise and fall of the Greatest Show on Earth--otherwise known as the circus. Narrator B.J. Harrison's inviting voice will charm listeners as he captures Standiford's enthusiasm for his subject. Circuses fell on hard times and harder times, which led to their demise, principally due to the successful efforts of animal rights activists. Nonetheless, there is something quite American about their stories, which are replete with the varied personalities of Barnum, Bailey, and Ringling and tales of their intense entrepreneurial rivalries. It's all here--tragedy and triumph, as well as revealing data on just how profitable these enterprises were in their heyday. Enjoy Harrison's beautifully enunciated excursion through this history lesson. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2021]