Gus the Great by Thomas W. Duncan, a historical novel about a circus, is one of my favorite books of all time. I see that there are used copies available, most of them pretty cheap, on Amazon. It’s been long out of print, but it’s well worth the time and trouble to find it:
I first read Gus the Great more than 40 years ago. I have since read it many, many times. It sits on my shelf with age-tanned paper, a ragged cover, and a broken spine. I handle it reverently. The character of Gus is unforgettable–with his fast-talking flim-flam, his bulk, his complete and utter belief in himself and his PT Barnum outlook. Gus breaks hearts and swindles men with equal aplomb and yet there is something poignantly lovable about Gus. Through it all there is the circus, like a character in itself. Every character is vivid, and when the big cat trainer meets his appointed end you feel it was justly deserved. I was delighted to see this book available on Amazon. I would like to see many people fall in love with this book the way I did. Anyone who likes Water For Elephants or circus books in general, will love Gus the Great. It would make a great film.
Another circus book still available is The Catch Trap by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It’s the love story of two male trapeze artists, Tommy and Mario, in the 1940’s and ’50’s. Beautifully written, as are all of Bradley’s books, it’s also exciting, compassionate, and vivid.
A third one, also available inexpensively on Amazon, is a little self-published book called Circus Buffoon by Danny Chapman. The book is set in the more modern-day circus. The writing itself is naively amateurish, almost endearingly so, and the plot is rather “Greatest-Show-On-Earth”-ish, but because the author is a former circus clown in real life he brings wonderful reality to the details. It would be neat if a real editor and publisher would work with him and republish it professionally. There are used copies available cheap on Amazon.
I hope if any of you read any of these books you’ll let me know your thoughts on them.
P.S. — I’d like to add that my own book, The Phoenix, has a section in the last half wherein the main character joins the circus. It’s not a long part of the story but it’s fun.
ruthsims
October 17, 2008 at 11:56 pm |
How about: “This Way To The Big Show” written by the publicist of Ringling Bros Circus in the 1930. The author’s name escapes me for the moment. An absolutely great read. Great photo’s also.
Cheers,
Bill
http://www.billpayne.wordpress.com
October 18, 2008 at 1:57 am |
Thank for leaving a message, Bill. I wish Amazon had more information about the book. There are a few listed, used, apparently all of them published in the late 30’s, but no information about the book at all. What you wrote sounds interesting. I’m going to see if my library (God bless libraries! I hope everybody uses them!)can find it for me.
October 18, 2008 at 5:44 pm |
The author is Dexter Fellows. Before he was the publicist for Ringling he worked for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, the book has a few chapters about his experiences about that. I believe you can find cheaper copies at Abe Books on the internet. Google: Abe Books. I have seen them in the $10.00 range at times. Another fine book is called: Fred Bradna, My 40 years with Ringling Bros. Circus. It was published in the 1950’s. A great read. I have seen that book at times for under $5.00. Check also with your local libraries, they always have a used book store (sometimes very small). I have found a treasure trove of great books over the years mostly for $1.00. It has been many years since I have paid full price for any book.
Please check out my website in the PHOTO section. I spent many years working for different circuses here and in England. I worked on Ringling for 13 years. The last time was the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
Best!
Bill
my website>>>>> http://www.billpayne.wordpress.com
November 28, 2008 at 11:49 pm |
I am so glad to read about another admirer of “Gus the Great”. I, too, have been re-reading it over and over at intervals over the past 30+ years. Every time I read the book I get something new from it. It is too bad that it is out of print and that more people do not know about it. Its irony, sense of place and time, and vivid characterizations are a real treasure.
November 29, 2008 at 1:55 am |
Sara, I am so happy that you left a comment. It’s always a pleasure to find out that someone else loves a book you love, especially when you feel you’re the only person who ever heard of it. I wish some smart publisher would re-publish it. Mine is falling apart!
A lot of books influenced my writing, but Gus is one one the biggest ones because of the very things you mention.
February 1, 2009 at 3:59 am |
I’m a very big fan of Gus the Great. I read it
back in the middle 80’s.I don’t remember how I
came across it,but it is without a doubt one of
the best books I’ve ever read! Mr. Duncans att-
ention to detail is so vivid I felt like I’ve
known Gus all my life. I often think about this
book and when I do it makes me feel good inside.
So Sara you are not alone.About ten years ago I
found a copy of this book in an antique store.
And in pretty good condition!
February 1, 2009 at 4:44 am |
Dear Ceaser,
Although your message was directed toward Sara, I want to say what a pleasure it was to read your comments. Gus the Great is such a wonderful, forgotten classic. Every character in it is unforgettable. If I won the lottery, I think I’d track down whoever owns the copyright and republish it. That will never happen but it’s a nice dream. How did you happen to find my review site, and most particularly, Gus.
Ruth Sims
February 1, 2009 at 6:40 am |
Dear ruth,
I was telling my kids about books I’ve read in my life. I was describing the details of Gus,but
I couldn’t think of the authors name, and much to my suprise,I found your site! I really could
not tell you how I first stumbled upon the book,
but I know it was in 1986.And I don’t know what
happend to that paticular copy.Ten years later I
had a couple of kids,so I said to myself,”coll-
ect some of the best books you’ve read.” And as
they say “the rest is history.” Ruth I must say
that when you can use the internet and find a treasure of a site as yours,informing people of
beautiful piece of literature as Gus,it is some-
thing special.
April 18, 2009 at 2:46 pm |
I too am a big fan of Gus The Great. When I was a teenager I read Big River Big Man by T.W. Duncan and I loved it. Some thirty years later I came across a website that sells used books. Alibris.com; there I found more books by this author and I have read them all. Gus the Great is wonderful and I found out it took him 10+ years to write. I currently have my 17 year old son reading it and he is doing a book report on it for school. He loves it too. I agree that this book and others by this author would make a great film. I love old books!!!
April 18, 2009 at 6:01 pm |
Dear Doro,
Thank you so much for leaving the message! It’s such a delightful and rare thing to find another person who has read and loved Gus. I don’t even know how many times I’ve read it; it’s falling apart. I didn’t know about Big River, Big Man but you can be certain I’m going to try to find it and others by Duncan.
Old books are wonderful! I love the way the best of them were written, with intelligence and subtlety. And, good grief, they actually left some things to the imagination! Imagine that. A few reviewers have found my slightly old-fashioned way of writing not to their liking, but I write what I like to read.
Have you read Gene Stratton Porter’s Indiana books–Keeper of the Bees, Freckles, Girl of the Limberlost, etc.? Or Thomas Hardy or Jack London? I just read a book by Jack London about the poor of London in 1902, People of the Abyss. An amazing, appalling work. People think of the “Edwardian” age as that of high society but I think his book shows the real Edwardians, the millions on the bottom.
Again, thank you for writing.
Ruth Sims