Circus of Wonders: A NovelFrom the #1 internationally bestselling author of the “lush, evocative Gothic” (The New York Times Book Review) The Doll Factory comes an atmospheric and spectacular novel about a woman transformed by the arrival of a Victorian circus of wonders—“as moving as it is deeply entertaining” (Daniel Mason, New York Times bestselling author). Step up, step up! In 1860s England, circus mania is sweeping the nation. Crowds jostle for a glimpse of the lion-tamers, the dazzling trapeze artists and, most thrilling of all, the so-called “human wonders.” When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders pitches its tent in a poor coastal town, the life of one young girl changes forever. Sold to the ringmaster as a “leopard girl” because of the birthmarks that cover her body, Nell is utterly devastated. But as she grows close to the other performers, she finds herself enchanted by the glittering freedom of the circus, and by her own role as the Queen of the Moon and Stars. Before long, Nell’s fame spreads across the world—and with it, a chance for Jasper Jupiter to grow his own name and fortune. But what happens when her fame begins to eclipse his own, when even Jasper’s loyal brother Toby becomes captivated by Nell? No longer the quiet flower-picker, Nell knows her own place in the world, and she will fight for it. Circus of Wonders is “a beautifully told and immersive look at a complex dance between exploitation and empowerment, and the question of what it really means to have control over your own life” (Naomi Ishiguro, author of Escape Routes). |
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arms beside birthmarks body bones breath brother Brothers Grimm Brunette cage candles carte de visite Charles Stratton Charlie cheek chest child Circus of Wonders close creature Crimea crowd Dash Dash's door eyes face father feels feet fingers fire giantess girl glass grips hair hand handbills head hear horse Huffen Black imagines Jackal Jasper Jupiter Jasper Jupiter's Circus Jasper says Joice Heth Julia Pastrana kicks laborers laugh Lavinia Warren legs Lenny lifts lips looks mouth move Nell's Nellie Moon night nods P. T. Barnum papier-mâché pause Pearl Peggy performers Perhaps photograph pleasure gardens pounds pulls Queen ring ropes Sevastopol shakes shoulder shouts showman sits skin smile someone stands stares Stella says stop story swings takes tells tent thinks thought thousand throat tiny Toby says Toby's Tom Thumb touches tries troupe turns twists village voice wagon waiting walks watches What's whispers wings Winston woman