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Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus
A true life Water for Elephants, Queen of the Air brings the circus world to life through the gorgeously written, true story of renowned trapeze artist and circus performer Leitzel, Queen of the Air, the most famous woman in the world at the turn of the 20th century, and her star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codona Brothers.
Like today's Beyonce, Madonna, and Cher, she was known to her vast public by just one name, Leitzel. There may have been some regions on earth where her name was not a household expression, but if so, they were likely on polar ice caps or in the darkest, deepest jungles.
Leitzel was born into Dickensian circumstances, and became a princess and then a queen. She was not much bigger than a good size fairy, just four-foot-ten and less than 100 pounds. In the first part of the 20th century, she presided over a sawdust fiefdom of never-ending magic. She was the biggest star ever of the biggest circus ever, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth.
In her life, Leitzel had many suitors (and three husbands), but only one man ever fully captured her heart. He was the handsome Alfredo Codona, the greatest trapeze flyer that had ever lived, the only one in his time who, night after night, executed the deadliest of all big-top feats, The Triple--three somersaults in midair while traveling at 60 m.p.h. The Triple, the salto mortale, as the Italians called it, took the lives of more daredevils than any other circus stunt.
Like today's Beyonce, Madonna, and Cher, she was known to her vast public by just one name, Leitzel. There may have been some regions on earth where her name was not a household expression, but if so, they were likely on polar ice caps or in the darkest, deepest jungles.
Leitzel was born into Dickensian circumstances, and became a princess and then a queen. She was not much bigger than a good size fairy, just four-foot-ten and less than 100 pounds. In the first part of the 20th century, she presided over a sawdust fiefdom of never-ending magic. She was the biggest star ever of the biggest circus ever, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth.
In her life, Leitzel had many suitors (and three husbands), but only one man ever fully captured her heart. He was the handsome Alfredo Codona, the greatest trapeze flyer that had ever lived, the only one in his time who, night after night, executed the deadliest of all big-top feats, The Triple--three somersaults in midair while traveling at 60 m.p.h. The Triple, the salto mortale, as the Italians called it, took the lives of more daredevils than any other circus stunt.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 11, 2013
42 people are currently reading
2238 people want to read
About the author
Dean Jensen
7 books21 followersDean Jensen is a former journalist who owns and manages an art gallery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Also writes under the name Dean N. Jensen.
Also writes under the name Dean N. Jensen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
December 12, 2013
I really, really want to read a biography of Lillian Leitzel. This, unfortunately, is not it. This is a novelization, with way too much "As Nellie may have thought... *wild speculation*" and 'Her father put his head down on the table, overcome with *imputed emotions*' and lots of 'he thought' and 'she thought' besides. I'm not convinced.
I think if it's a novel based on facts, then make it a novel and own the speculation. Don't keep qualifying it over and over, calling one's reader out from the book, forced to wonder... did Nellie, in fact, think about her doll in exactly that way? This book made me crazy. I want facts, or I want fiction. I don't want something wishy-washily betwixt and between, which I think this is.
I think if it's a novel based on facts, then make it a novel and own the speculation. Don't keep qualifying it over and over, calling one's reader out from the book, forced to wonder... did Nellie, in fact, think about her doll in exactly that way? This book made me crazy. I want facts, or I want fiction. I don't want something wishy-washily betwixt and between, which I think this is.
July 5, 2017
4 or maybe 3.5?
RTC
RTC
December 31, 2017
Audiobook performed by Emma Bering
Subtitle: A True Story of Love & Tragedy at the Circus
From the book jacket: Dean Jensen’s Queen of the Air brings the circus world alive through the gorgeously written story of renowned aerialist Lillian Leitzel, and her star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codonas. Like today’s Beyonce and Madonna, the book’s heroine was known to her vast public by just one name: Leitzel. There may have been some regions on earth where her name was not a household word, but if so, they were likely on polar ice caps or in the darkest, deepest jungles. Leitzel and Alfredo were the biggest stars of the most famous road show ever produced, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
My Reactions
Wow … just wow. This is a love story, a tragedy to rival Shakespeare, a history of early twentieth century America, and a thrilling adventure. When I was a child in San Antonio Texas, I frequently visited the Hertzberg Circus Museum, which was then housed on one floor of the main public library. (It is now, sadly, in storage with the Witte Museum, available only to scholars.) How I loved looking at those exhibits of carriages used by General Tom Thumb, posters of aerialists, lion-tamers, clowns and side-show attractions. I was completely fascinated by it, but do not remember anything about Leitzel and Alfredo.
So their story was a complete surprise to me. I was enthralled and captivated by their story. Leitzel was truly a S*T*A*R – showered with gifts and admiration, the highest-paid and most pampered performer in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She met and was entertained by titans of industry (rumor has it that Henry Ford was among her lovers), Hollywood and Broadway stars, and even the President.
Like Leitzel, Alfredo and his brother Lalo grew up in the circus. They were the first to perfect and publicly perform The Triple. The love affair between these two stars of the air was passionate, tempestuous, and tragic.
In the author’s acknowledgments Jensen writes that it took him some thirty years to write the book. He hated his first draft, penned in the 1980s, and put it in a drawer while he pursued other things. But the story could not stay dormant: “The story of Leitzel and Alfredo was the greatest one the big top has ever had to tell. They presided over an ever-relocating sawdust-and-rainbows-made Camelot where, one after another, wonderments kept occurring. Their love story was epic. … Their story moved in the arc of a Greek tragedy, and, I believe, was complete with mischievous fates and vengeful gods.”
Emma Bering does a fine job narrating the audio book. I felt the tension and exhilaration of the daring fetes performed by this circus stars. I’m glad I listened to this engaging story, but also glad that I got the hardcover edition to I could check spellings for names, etc. The printed book includes the author’s acknowledgments as well as several pages of photographs of Leitzel and Alfredo and their families.
Subtitle: A True Story of Love & Tragedy at the Circus
From the book jacket: Dean Jensen’s Queen of the Air brings the circus world alive through the gorgeously written story of renowned aerialist Lillian Leitzel, and her star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codonas. Like today’s Beyonce and Madonna, the book’s heroine was known to her vast public by just one name: Leitzel. There may have been some regions on earth where her name was not a household word, but if so, they were likely on polar ice caps or in the darkest, deepest jungles. Leitzel and Alfredo were the biggest stars of the most famous road show ever produced, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
My Reactions
Wow … just wow. This is a love story, a tragedy to rival Shakespeare, a history of early twentieth century America, and a thrilling adventure. When I was a child in San Antonio Texas, I frequently visited the Hertzberg Circus Museum, which was then housed on one floor of the main public library. (It is now, sadly, in storage with the Witte Museum, available only to scholars.) How I loved looking at those exhibits of carriages used by General Tom Thumb, posters of aerialists, lion-tamers, clowns and side-show attractions. I was completely fascinated by it, but do not remember anything about Leitzel and Alfredo.
So their story was a complete surprise to me. I was enthralled and captivated by their story. Leitzel was truly a S*T*A*R – showered with gifts and admiration, the highest-paid and most pampered performer in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She met and was entertained by titans of industry (rumor has it that Henry Ford was among her lovers), Hollywood and Broadway stars, and even the President.
Like Leitzel, Alfredo and his brother Lalo grew up in the circus. They were the first to perfect and publicly perform The Triple. The love affair between these two stars of the air was passionate, tempestuous, and tragic.
In the author’s acknowledgments Jensen writes that it took him some thirty years to write the book. He hated his first draft, penned in the 1980s, and put it in a drawer while he pursued other things. But the story could not stay dormant: “The story of Leitzel and Alfredo was the greatest one the big top has ever had to tell. They presided over an ever-relocating sawdust-and-rainbows-made Camelot where, one after another, wonderments kept occurring. Their love story was epic. … Their story moved in the arc of a Greek tragedy, and, I believe, was complete with mischievous fates and vengeful gods.”
Emma Bering does a fine job narrating the audio book. I felt the tension and exhilaration of the daring fetes performed by this circus stars. I’m glad I listened to this engaging story, but also glad that I got the hardcover edition to I could check spellings for names, etc. The printed book includes the author’s acknowledgments as well as several pages of photographs of Leitzel and Alfredo and their families.
April 1, 2013
Lacking any real knowledge, I always thought “circus folk” of the last century were thought of about as highly as the shimmy-shake dancers writhing away in the back tents. So this book really opened my eyes to entertainment “royalty” - swinging high in the air, constantly pushing themselves to the limit, while living off the adoration of their ever fickle fans. This is the story of Leitzel and Alfredo Codona, the Queen and King of the many circus circuits of the late 19th to 20th centuries. I could smell the roasted peanuts and often exhaled a sigh of fear and/or relief reading the miraculous tricks performed high in the big top. I’ll admit to the occasional blush crossing my cheeks as the performers were described in their finely decorated athletic garb. Flying free through the air, who could imagine all the rules and limitations they faced on the ground? It is amazing performers ever married with all the parents, managers, impersonal living quarters and circus detectives driving them apart at every turn! What a treat to be taken back in time and see the show through such adoring eyes, close media scrutiny and the performers’ own personal insights. All that suffering to be the best and most dazzling. This was a lively and informative read!
October 13, 2015
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STORY.
“In her lifetime, one well before television, Leitzel had appeared live before more people than any other entertainer in any medium, or even any United States president.” (l. 3898-3899)
“She generated far more money for the circus than any other performer in its history.” (l. 3298)
How is it possible that I had not heard of these folks before now?
Everyone loves the circus and is curious about the lives of circus folks—few more than I. So how is that it took so long for me to learn about two of the all time greatest-ever stars of the big top? At their peak, Leitzel and Alfredo Codona were paid a combined salary in the stratospheric neighborhood of $1,750 per week (her $1,250, him $500), at a time when the average working stiff was lucky and happy to gross $750 a year. That’s stardom. That’s success. Written large.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love & Tragedy at the Circus, by Dean Jensen lives up to its subtitle only too well. It is the story of two folks, with enormous egos, who quite literally had it all, whom I’d never even knew of, gone for more than eighty years now—and yet, Dean Jensen had me cheering for them all the way, and then grieving for their loss. That’s good story telling.
Recommendation: If there is one iota of big tents, sawdust, bright lights, brassy music, show-biz, and/or tragic romance in your soul; this one is a must read.
“The great canvas cathedral was never again quite as magic, wondrous, and even as holy a place as it was when they were its rulers, and, it seems almost sure, it never will be again.” (l. 4403-4404)
Crown/Archetype. Kindle Edition, 5058 locations.
“In her lifetime, one well before television, Leitzel had appeared live before more people than any other entertainer in any medium, or even any United States president.” (l. 3898-3899)
“She generated far more money for the circus than any other performer in its history.” (l. 3298)
How is it possible that I had not heard of these folks before now?
Everyone loves the circus and is curious about the lives of circus folks—few more than I. So how is that it took so long for me to learn about two of the all time greatest-ever stars of the big top? At their peak, Leitzel and Alfredo Codona were paid a combined salary in the stratospheric neighborhood of $1,750 per week (her $1,250, him $500), at a time when the average working stiff was lucky and happy to gross $750 a year. That’s stardom. That’s success. Written large.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love & Tragedy at the Circus, by Dean Jensen lives up to its subtitle only too well. It is the story of two folks, with enormous egos, who quite literally had it all, whom I’d never even knew of, gone for more than eighty years now—and yet, Dean Jensen had me cheering for them all the way, and then grieving for their loss. That’s good story telling.
Recommendation: If there is one iota of big tents, sawdust, bright lights, brassy music, show-biz, and/or tragic romance in your soul; this one is a must read.
“The great canvas cathedral was never again quite as magic, wondrous, and even as holy a place as it was when they were its rulers, and, it seems almost sure, it never will be again.” (l. 4403-4404)
Crown/Archetype. Kindle Edition, 5058 locations.
November 26, 2014
I had no idea who Leitzel or Alfredo Cordona was before i read this book. I've always been intrigued with the people of the circus and their life on the road. This is that and so much more. You are taken on this whirlwind journey in this true story of the lives of Lietzel, Alfredo and Vera. The hard lives these three people faced was a sad one. During the reading of this book, I found myself researching the Cordona's, videos of circus acts and pictures, to get more of an idea of who they were. This is a great read. I highly recommend it!
June 26, 2024
**Content Warnings at the Bottom**
I didn’t even know this book existed, but as I am doing the ABC challenge again this year, I had to find a book starting with ‘Q’ so I went searching on Libby and found this title. I have never been to a Circus, but something about them is embedded in American subconsciousness. Without ever being in one, I can tell you about the Big Top, the popcorn and cotton candy, the midway full of games, and the tent of oddities. The Queen of the Air shows is not the polished and put-together view of the Circus that those attending would see, but the suffering and dirtiness of those who worked to make sure that the show goes on, especially for their star performers. Jensen says that he wanted to write about the Queen and King of the High Top, but he gave so much more information in this story than the tumultuous relationship between Letizel and Alfredo Codona.
Queen of the Air chronicles the life of Leitzel, the best-known circus performer of the early 20th century and one of the biggest celebrities, from her humble beginnings to her tragic death. However, instead of just focusing on Leitzel during her time as a performer, Jensen goes even further back to her mother Nellie, forced to grow up too young, but able to set Leitzel on the path to aerialist performance. As her mother is only 12 years older than her daughter and has gone for long periods of time performing in circuses around Europe, their relationship was not one of mother and daughter. When they start performing together, it is clear that Leitzel is a phenomenon, pushing her mother out of the spotlight. So starts her meteoric rise and eventually becomes the Queen of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Jensen also weaves in the story of Alfredo Codona and his humble beginnings, performing with his father as a toddler to becoming the greatest male trapeze flyer. When the two meet as teenagers, Alfredo is stricken instantly with Leitzel and her high-flying act. However, it was not meant to be and when they are reunited as adults, their relationship becomes something passionate and dangerous. Between following these two performers and their many feats, Jensen discusses the culture of the circus, those who worked on it, and how chaotic and precise the circus is at the same time. As we know, all things that rise must fall, and Jensen follows his stars to their end and the golden age of the circus.
As this is a non-fiction book, there isn’t a lot I can critique because all I know about the circus let alone the circus in the early 20th century. Some word choices made me cringe, but I trust that Jensen is using the language that was proper at that time and not just choosing to use some terminology that has been phased out. I thought the pacing was well done, even when you take small journeys into the stories of the individuals around Leitzel and Alfredo. Jensen also sets a good tone with this story, giving Leitzel the praise they so rightly deserved while never losing sight of them as people and the mistakes that all people make. Jensen writes about circus performers as if they all have almost an addiction to the circus and even when they are injuring themselves and risking their lives constantly, the thought of leaving the circus is tantamount to dying.
I enjoyed my time with this novel and following along with all the triumphs and tragedies of the circus and the people who were mixed up with the magic of it. I gave this a four-star rating because there were some passages and word choices that did bother me. If you are interested in the circus, I would suggest giving this a read, but also for the person who knows nothing like myself, you can be pulled into the magic and horror of the BigTop.
**Content Warnings**
**Child death, injury, disability, childhood sexual abuse (on page), rape (on page), infidelity**
January 25, 2020
This is a rather engaging biography (written with some narrative liberties) about trapeze performers Lillian Leitzel and Alfredo Cardona. Although largely forgotten outside the circus community today, the pair were one household names -- Leitzel probably the highest paid and most seen entertainer in the United States. Jensen does an impressive job of researchers the details of their lives and presenting them with flair. His prose is peppered with subtle wit and rich language, as when he observes that the "stupendous-size gorilla" employed by Ringling Brothers ate enough bananas to have "a salutary effect on the economies of Honduras, Panama and Ecuador." Or when he observes that Charles Morton (for whom Cardona stunt doubles on trapeze in the film 4 Devils) "could have been valedictorian of a graduating class at Bernarr Macfadden's American College of Physical Education." The handsome Cardona has the effect of a "sirocco heated by Saharan sands" on female fans; audiences await the Leitzel's performance as though visiting the Lady of Fatima. And how can you not admire an author who utilizes the words "rotomontade" and "caparisoned" perfectly on consecutive pages?
For anyone remotely interested in circus history, as I am, this volume is a must read. For other readers, it is a charming and fast-paced entree into the magical era when circus stars were celebrities on par with movie icons.
For anyone remotely interested in circus history, as I am, this volume is a must read. For other readers, it is a charming and fast-paced entree into the magical era when circus stars were celebrities on par with movie icons.
December 23, 2012
I just completed reading an advance copy of Queen Of The Air. This is a beautiful, engaging and tragic historical narrative of one of the greatest natural aerial talents the circus has ever witnessed: Leopoldina Alitza Pelikan, better known as Leitzel. In her prime, she was the best known circus performer in the first third of the 20th century, being paid twice what the closest male performer was earning.
This true life tale is one of humanity, achievement, necessity, ego, dysfunction and above all, passion. Conceived out of an act of rape, and separated from her dedicated but traveling mother, young Leitzel found solace in following the aerial wing-prints of her performing mother. Leitzel would embody the idea of the New Woman arising during the Belle Époque. She was strong, talented and to the best of anyone's ability, eventually took charge of her own destiny. Yet this story provides insight that regardless of what era in which life is lived, careers will interfere with family, pride and egos will complicate love, and everything we value comes at a price. The nomadic life of the circus may have its unique qualities, but the struggles of humans are universal.
Another reviewer stated that some of the material is speculative, which of course is necessary in the writing of such historical material. Yet it is also well-researched and the speculative aspects do not detract from, but rather enhance the emotional content of this story.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants greater insight into the gypsy-like machinations and struggles of circus life, the longing for celebrity in the early 20th century, or simply the emotional struggles of what it is to be human.
This true life tale is one of humanity, achievement, necessity, ego, dysfunction and above all, passion. Conceived out of an act of rape, and separated from her dedicated but traveling mother, young Leitzel found solace in following the aerial wing-prints of her performing mother. Leitzel would embody the idea of the New Woman arising during the Belle Époque. She was strong, talented and to the best of anyone's ability, eventually took charge of her own destiny. Yet this story provides insight that regardless of what era in which life is lived, careers will interfere with family, pride and egos will complicate love, and everything we value comes at a price. The nomadic life of the circus may have its unique qualities, but the struggles of humans are universal.
Another reviewer stated that some of the material is speculative, which of course is necessary in the writing of such historical material. Yet it is also well-researched and the speculative aspects do not detract from, but rather enhance the emotional content of this story.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants greater insight into the gypsy-like machinations and struggles of circus life, the longing for celebrity in the early 20th century, or simply the emotional struggles of what it is to be human.
February 27, 2013
Aptly named, "Queen of the Air", by author Dean Jensen, is a truly behind the scenes story of the renowned aerilist, Lillian Leitzel. If you cringe a little and ultimately shed a tear on reading the often elated and eventual tragic enfolding lives of two of the circuses best and well known aerilists, welcome to life under the big top.
Writer, Dean Jensen has truly devoted considerable time and insightful views of a woman, blessed with an unusual talent and cursed within the confines of her personal life. Once you peek through the keyhole of her pitiful conception, open the door and experience the lifestyle of the tiny, Lillian Leitzel, aerial queen and her traveling city.
As outsiders, we only marvel at the glimmer and mystery of the performers of the traveling circuses, creeping at dawn on the the outskirts of the city, to magically appear, welcoming one and all. Author Jensen, lifts the red stipped flap and invites us in, on a hand guided tour behind the scenes of life in the circus.
Stripping away the glamour, the life of Lillian Leitzel unfolds as a petulant flower, budding and retreating in life, until the eventual, life changing meeting with John Ringling, King of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Joined eventually by long time ardent admirer, Alfredo Cardoza, the two finally find some sembalance of love and happiness, only to be tragically stripped away, aptly on the day of all lovers, Valentines, Day.
Its all there, the pomp and glamour of the big top circus, a peek at the lives of two of the pasts greatests circus performers, the only thing missing is the smell of the sawdust on the floors.
At great read, you will be forever changed in your next circus experinece, wondering more about the lives of the performers then their performance.
Writer, Dean Jensen has truly devoted considerable time and insightful views of a woman, blessed with an unusual talent and cursed within the confines of her personal life. Once you peek through the keyhole of her pitiful conception, open the door and experience the lifestyle of the tiny, Lillian Leitzel, aerial queen and her traveling city.
As outsiders, we only marvel at the glimmer and mystery of the performers of the traveling circuses, creeping at dawn on the the outskirts of the city, to magically appear, welcoming one and all. Author Jensen, lifts the red stipped flap and invites us in, on a hand guided tour behind the scenes of life in the circus.
Stripping away the glamour, the life of Lillian Leitzel unfolds as a petulant flower, budding and retreating in life, until the eventual, life changing meeting with John Ringling, King of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Joined eventually by long time ardent admirer, Alfredo Cardoza, the two finally find some sembalance of love and happiness, only to be tragically stripped away, aptly on the day of all lovers, Valentines, Day.
Its all there, the pomp and glamour of the big top circus, a peek at the lives of two of the pasts greatests circus performers, the only thing missing is the smell of the sawdust on the floors.
At great read, you will be forever changed in your next circus experinece, wondering more about the lives of the performers then their performance.
May 20, 2013
Although she began life as the daughter of a poor circus family, Leitzel’s skill as a trapeze artist catapulted her to world-wide fame. This allowed her to become something like circus royalty, making extreme demands of her managers and carrying on illicit affairs that would be grounds for dismissal in others. Her passionate affair with another exceptional trapeze artists, Alfredo Codona was one of the most dramatic events of her drama-filled life.
This book had a lot of the qualities that I look for in narrative non-fiction. The vivid descriptions of a by-gone era were fascinating. The extensive use of quotes was well-executed and indicative of impressive amounts of research. The story itself was full of drama and the writing was technically very good. Sadly, despite its strong points, Queen of the Air never fully engaged me in the story.
The writing could possibly have done something to create more of an emotional connection. In particular, direct quotes that gave more information about the emotional states of the characters would have helped me get to know them better. However, I think the real problem was not the writing, but the people themselves. Leitzel and Alfredo were both incredibly selfish in their pursuit of romantic relationships. They were willing to hurt other people to be with their chosen partners and Leitzel never even seemed to love the men she was pursuing. Despite the titles intimation of disaster on the horizon, I wasn’t worried because I didn’t care much what happened to them. This lack of connection made what I think could have been a very engaging story fall a little flat.
This review first published on Doing Dewey.
This book had a lot of the qualities that I look for in narrative non-fiction. The vivid descriptions of a by-gone era were fascinating. The extensive use of quotes was well-executed and indicative of impressive amounts of research. The story itself was full of drama and the writing was technically very good. Sadly, despite its strong points, Queen of the Air never fully engaged me in the story.
The writing could possibly have done something to create more of an emotional connection. In particular, direct quotes that gave more information about the emotional states of the characters would have helped me get to know them better. However, I think the real problem was not the writing, but the people themselves. Leitzel and Alfredo were both incredibly selfish in their pursuit of romantic relationships. They were willing to hurt other people to be with their chosen partners and Leitzel never even seemed to love the men she was pursuing. Despite the titles intimation of disaster on the horizon, I wasn’t worried because I didn’t care much what happened to them. This lack of connection made what I think could have been a very engaging story fall a little flat.
This review first published on Doing Dewey.
June 26, 2013
The circus, and circus performers, have long held a fascination for me. I was already familiar with who Lillian Leitzel was, so I was thrilled to receive this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. I think what makes this particular book an interesting read is the combination of the subject material and the author's writing style.
It's clear that that the author has a love for his subject, and I enjoyed reading his Acknowledgments section almost as much as the book, itself. His writing puts the narrator in a position of describing not only the people and places, but also in a position where he is giving the reader someone's innermost thoughts. He has a vivid, descriptive writing style, so that it's very easy to imagine all of the places, and the people. At times, the book read more like fiction to me, and at first, I found it a little distracting. However, once I stopped, and went to the back of the book, and looked at the notes section, it was clear to me that the author had done a lot of research, and had pulled these first-person descriptions from that.
Reading this book gives you insight into the life of the circus as much as it gives you the story of Leitzel, and it's nice to have some of the background and extra information to help give some perspective. Leitzel, as talented as she was, had issues, both in her personal and professional life, and as much as the author loves his subject, he doesn't shy away from giving us the less-than-happy details of her life. I think it's a great read if you know nothing about Leitzel, but it's an extra-special book for someone like me.
It's clear that that the author has a love for his subject, and I enjoyed reading his Acknowledgments section almost as much as the book, itself. His writing puts the narrator in a position of describing not only the people and places, but also in a position where he is giving the reader someone's innermost thoughts. He has a vivid, descriptive writing style, so that it's very easy to imagine all of the places, and the people. At times, the book read more like fiction to me, and at first, I found it a little distracting. However, once I stopped, and went to the back of the book, and looked at the notes section, it was clear to me that the author had done a lot of research, and had pulled these first-person descriptions from that.
Reading this book gives you insight into the life of the circus as much as it gives you the story of Leitzel, and it's nice to have some of the background and extra information to help give some perspective. Leitzel, as talented as she was, had issues, both in her personal and professional life, and as much as the author loves his subject, he doesn't shy away from giving us the less-than-happy details of her life. I think it's a great read if you know nothing about Leitzel, but it's an extra-special book for someone like me.
November 1, 2012
The author has done extensive research to bring this true story of traveling circus performers to life. It begins in the late 1800’s just as circuses are developing, and continues thru the 1930’s, the glory days of the famous Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey circus. Some of the info is speculative but in most cases does not detract from the story. The first character introduced, Nellie, is a second-generation performer. She makes many sacrifices to reach her goal as the most famous trapeze artist of the time, including leaving her young children behind to be raised by her mother. Nellie’s daughter Leitzel decides that performing also runs in her blood and joins the circus. Leitzel is the main character and her journey as a trapeze performer is a remarkable one. She eventually becomes one of the most famous headliners in the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, mastering another art - being spoiled and manipulative. Leitzel has a weakness for men but eventually becomes involved in a relationship that the author believes is the greatest love story the big top has ever had. It is indeed a great story!
I enjoyed the insider’s view of how the circus grew over the years, including the evolution of daredevil stunts and trapeze milestones. I felt the energy and devotion of the performers, who thrived in the glory and glamor of it all. It was difficult to watch these same performers spiral downward when they got ‘too old’ or ‘too fat’ or when the next ‘greatest act ‘came along.
I enjoyed the insider’s view of how the circus grew over the years, including the evolution of daredevil stunts and trapeze milestones. I felt the energy and devotion of the performers, who thrived in the glory and glamor of it all. It was difficult to watch these same performers spiral downward when they got ‘too old’ or ‘too fat’ or when the next ‘greatest act ‘came along.
March 18, 2023
The biggest sin that this book commits is its adherence to narrative non-fiction. The stories of the circus performers in this book are told with no hedging and with complete confidence, including how they felt about it. I would not tell a story about my own life with this much confidence (as if it were a novel), much less the story of someone who died nearly 100 years ago.
It's books like this that make me wish that English were the kind of language where evidentiality were required to be marked (i.e. allegedly in some languages it is not possible to express a statement without also categorizing that statement by how you know it — "I saw Bob go to the store" or "I was told that Bob went to the store" rather than "Bob went to the store"). It would make it harder to get away with this sort of tomfoolery.
Putting aside the low trust I have into the validity of the things this book says, I also found it too long and going into too many details. This might be nice for people who really care about these particular circus performers, but it was a bit too much for me.
Finally, this is a total nitpick, but for some reason Jensen really likes the word "seeable" and uses it a lot when I would have used "visible". This grated on me, though admittedly it was obvious what he meant.
1.5 of 5 stars
It's books like this that make me wish that English were the kind of language where evidentiality were required to be marked (i.e. allegedly in some languages it is not possible to express a statement without also categorizing that statement by how you know it — "I saw Bob go to the store" or "I was told that Bob went to the store" rather than "Bob went to the store"). It would make it harder to get away with this sort of tomfoolery.
Putting aside the low trust I have into the validity of the things this book says, I also found it too long and going into too many details. This might be nice for people who really care about these particular circus performers, but it was a bit too much for me.
Finally, this is a total nitpick, but for some reason Jensen really likes the word "seeable" and uses it a lot when I would have used "visible". This grated on me, though admittedly it was obvious what he meant.
1.5 of 5 stars
June 18, 2013
Disclaimer: I received this book through a giveaway by the publisher.
I have to admit, before reading this book, I had no idea who Lillian Leitzel was. Now, not only do I know her life story but the things that drove her chaotic life. As a circus performer, Leitzel was on top of the world - literally and figuratively. However, she was never satisfied.
Jensen does a great job of showing why Leitzel was never truly satisfied. He tells Leitzel story through a lens of someone who cares deeply about her, rather than simply a biographer presenting facts.
Jensen's writing is choppy at times and bounces back and forth. It's as if he is trying to foreshadow the upcoming tragedy - but has no idea the best way to go about this. This can make the read challenging, since it can be hard to really narrow down where we are in Leitzel's story. Jensen also fizzles off towards the end. With so much pomp leading up to the tragedy that was Leitzel's death, there is little discussion of the "afterwards."
Overall a solid read, and an interesting one at that. However, this could have used a bit more jazzing up. 3.5 stars.
I have to admit, before reading this book, I had no idea who Lillian Leitzel was. Now, not only do I know her life story but the things that drove her chaotic life. As a circus performer, Leitzel was on top of the world - literally and figuratively. However, she was never satisfied.
Jensen does a great job of showing why Leitzel was never truly satisfied. He tells Leitzel story through a lens of someone who cares deeply about her, rather than simply a biographer presenting facts.
Jensen's writing is choppy at times and bounces back and forth. It's as if he is trying to foreshadow the upcoming tragedy - but has no idea the best way to go about this. This can make the read challenging, since it can be hard to really narrow down where we are in Leitzel's story. Jensen also fizzles off towards the end. With so much pomp leading up to the tragedy that was Leitzel's death, there is little discussion of the "afterwards."
Overall a solid read, and an interesting one at that. However, this could have used a bit more jazzing up. 3.5 stars.
August 22, 2013
Like the preview states, this is like a non-fiction version of Water For Elephants. I've noticed books revolving around the circus, whether fiction or non, have colorful characters and talented artists, but almost always end in tragedy. Doubly so with this one.
I loved reading about Lillian Leitzel and Alfredo Cordona, even if the two were incredibly self-centered and destructive. It made their stories that much sadder.
The info on circus life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was amazing and so well-researched. I enjoyed the incorporation of photographs (you can also go to youtube and find videos of their acts) to give faces to the names. This book read like a novel, which I find to be a huge benefit when reading non-fiction - it helps the characters who actually once lived and breathed come to life once more.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in the circus, especially it's history. Or for anyone simply looking for a good non-fiction to increase their knowledge of the world!
I loved reading about Lillian Leitzel and Alfredo Cordona, even if the two were incredibly self-centered and destructive. It made their stories that much sadder.
The info on circus life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was amazing and so well-researched. I enjoyed the incorporation of photographs (you can also go to youtube and find videos of their acts) to give faces to the names. This book read like a novel, which I find to be a huge benefit when reading non-fiction - it helps the characters who actually once lived and breathed come to life once more.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in the circus, especially it's history. Or for anyone simply looking for a good non-fiction to increase their knowledge of the world!
October 10, 2022
meh. This book was such a mash up of things - part historical document, part biography - or biographies, as there was more than one central figure in this book - part fact, part fiction...... or supposition, as there was a lot of guessing as to some of what went on in the minds of the central figures. Anyways, I found it to be more of a chore to complete than I thought it would be. Parts were fine and kept my interest, others not so much........ which seemed to grow exponentially as the book drew to a close and hence my 'forever' to get through it. Looking at the circus from such an angle really took all the magic out of it!
July 13, 2013
WOW! This was a surprisingly good "read" - well research and well written! I guess when you don't expect much, you can be pleasantly surprise, and I was! It was an excellent follow up to our winter tour of the John Ringling Art & Circus Museum in Sarasota, FL. Not an easy life when you are picked to train during your preteen years, and are on the road from then on! You really get the real life feel of what "star" experience. Circus life is not for the faint of heart!
March 19, 2013
I was thoroughly pleased to get an advanced copy of this book and was over the moon reading such detail on the early circus life. The writing on the details of the performances even had my gut sinking at times! I love this book and have to say it is a must read for any fans of the early 1900's.
May 16, 2019
I loved learning about Leitzel’s (spelled right?) crazy life and about the circus in general. But I didn’t love the end, how Alfonzo’s (again, spelled right? I listened to the audiobook...) violence, and especially his murder and suicide, we’re sort of romanticized. Or how Leitzel throwing dishes and things was romanticized. Like their whole lives were craziness and that was fun to read and learn about, but not sure about the way some of the romance was portrayed. You know? But over all, I found the whole story really really captivating!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2019
A fascinating history of the Diva of the circus. One of the most wealthy, powerful women of her time. Arrogant, a perfectionist, self-centred, driven. With all her foibles she could be generous with the children who travelled with the circus. Living life as an elite trapeze artist is fraught with complexities and is fleeting. An interesting sideline to this story, is the equally tragic account of her husband's life.
May 26, 2020
Wow! What a simply thrilling piece of nonfiction. Such an incredible story of life at the circus that really was circus-like; winding and twisting in all sorts of unexpected and unusual ways.
The life of Miss Leitzel and her fellow circus members is certainly a tale for the ages.
The life of Miss Leitzel and her fellow circus members is certainly a tale for the ages.
January 31, 2014
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Queen of the Air': Biography of 2 of the Most Famous Aerialists in Circus History Reads Like a Thriller -- But It's All True
Dean Jensen’s “Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus” (Crown Publishing, 336 pages, illustrations, notes, index, $26.00) was published last summer, so I’m late with this review, but I have an excuse: I didn’t learn about the book until I Googled myself!
Try it sometime: You may be surprised at what turns up.
I was checking for a story I wrote during my tenure at the Los Angeles Times and I came across my name in the acknowledgements section of Jensen’s wonderfully readable account of the strange beyond belief tale of Lillian Leitzel — the “Queen of the Air” – and her husband Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codonas aerialist troupe.
Dean Jensen acknowledged my help in securing newspaper accounts of Codona’s last tragic years in Southern California, after his wife, Lillian Leitzel, died in a performance accident in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1931.
Dean was a colleague of mine at The Milwaukee Sentinel – now the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel -- and a good friend. He stayed with us in the 1980s, gathering information on Codona, who lived in Long Beach, CA.
I won’t reveal the fate of Codona, retired after suffering a series of crippling accidents, and his then wife, Australian-born aerialist Vera Bruce, but it was a tragic end to both their careers.
Lillian was born out of wedlock in 1891 in Breslau, Germany, now Wroclaw, Poland, to a circus performer mother, Nellie Pelikan. Nellie was only 12 when she gave birth to Lillian, under circumstances that also constitute a spoiler.
Lillian’s fame as an aerialist with the Leamy Ladies and later with the “Greatest Show on Earth” — the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus — led to her becoming the greatest aerialist in history, known throughout the world simply as “Leitzel.”
There was nothing simple about Leitzel, the most famous woman in the world, any more than there is about today’s today’s single-named celebrities Beyonce, Madonna, and Cher. Separated from her mother most of her life, she quickly became more famous, which, as Jensen recounts, resulted in an estrangement that ended only a few weeks before Leitzel’s death at age 40.
Tiny, beautiful Leitzel — she was only 4-foot-ten-inches tall and weighed less than 100 pounds — was the highest paid circus performer in the world, drawing a salary of $1,200 a week — when the annual income for working class families was $750 — a year!
Like other prima donnas down to the present day, Leitzel was a difficult, complicated person, subject to mood swings as grandiose as her aerial performances. There’s a lot of “A Star Is Born” vibe about the always stormy relationship between Leitzel and Codona in Jensen’s book. For one thing, Codona was extremely well paid, but never as highly paid as his wife. “Queen of the Air” is also an excellent account of the world of circuses, including their traveling arrangements and how they criss-crossed the nation in trains with 100 or more cars.
In her life, Leitzel had many suitors — and three husbands — but the movie-star handsome Codona came closest to capturing her heart. Not surprisingly, movies were part of his life, too: After Leitzel’s death, Alfredo and Vera Bruce performed the stunts for Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan in the 1932 movie “Tarzan the Ape Man” filmed in Lake Sherwood, Ventura County, CA, which was one of the filming sites of the 1938 movie “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Before the Tarzan movie, Alfredo appeared in F. W. Murnau’s circus film ’4 Devils.”
Codona was the perfect choice for these stunts because he and his brother Lalo night after night performed death-defying stunts. Alfredo was the greatest trapeze flyer that had ever lived, the only one in his time who, on a regular basis, executed the deadliest of all big-top feats, The Triple: three somersaults in midair while traveling at 60 m.p.h. The Triple — the salto mortale, as the Italians called it – took the lives of more aerialists than any other circus stunt.
The story of Leitzel and Alfredo and their families in “Queen of the Air” reads like a novel from a master, but it’s a true story written by an author who understands circus people and what attracts them to spend their working lives in a closed entertainment community that moves from city to city.
Dean Jensen’s “Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus” (Crown Publishing, 336 pages, illustrations, notes, index, $26.00) was published last summer, so I’m late with this review, but I have an excuse: I didn’t learn about the book until I Googled myself!
Try it sometime: You may be surprised at what turns up.
I was checking for a story I wrote during my tenure at the Los Angeles Times and I came across my name in the acknowledgements section of Jensen’s wonderfully readable account of the strange beyond belief tale of Lillian Leitzel — the “Queen of the Air” – and her husband Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codonas aerialist troupe.
Dean Jensen acknowledged my help in securing newspaper accounts of Codona’s last tragic years in Southern California, after his wife, Lillian Leitzel, died in a performance accident in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1931.
Dean was a colleague of mine at The Milwaukee Sentinel – now the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel -- and a good friend. He stayed with us in the 1980s, gathering information on Codona, who lived in Long Beach, CA.
I won’t reveal the fate of Codona, retired after suffering a series of crippling accidents, and his then wife, Australian-born aerialist Vera Bruce, but it was a tragic end to both their careers.
Lillian was born out of wedlock in 1891 in Breslau, Germany, now Wroclaw, Poland, to a circus performer mother, Nellie Pelikan. Nellie was only 12 when she gave birth to Lillian, under circumstances that also constitute a spoiler.
Lillian’s fame as an aerialist with the Leamy Ladies and later with the “Greatest Show on Earth” — the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus — led to her becoming the greatest aerialist in history, known throughout the world simply as “Leitzel.”
There was nothing simple about Leitzel, the most famous woman in the world, any more than there is about today’s today’s single-named celebrities Beyonce, Madonna, and Cher. Separated from her mother most of her life, she quickly became more famous, which, as Jensen recounts, resulted in an estrangement that ended only a few weeks before Leitzel’s death at age 40.
Tiny, beautiful Leitzel — she was only 4-foot-ten-inches tall and weighed less than 100 pounds — was the highest paid circus performer in the world, drawing a salary of $1,200 a week — when the annual income for working class families was $750 — a year!
Like other prima donnas down to the present day, Leitzel was a difficult, complicated person, subject to mood swings as grandiose as her aerial performances. There’s a lot of “A Star Is Born” vibe about the always stormy relationship between Leitzel and Codona in Jensen’s book. For one thing, Codona was extremely well paid, but never as highly paid as his wife. “Queen of the Air” is also an excellent account of the world of circuses, including their traveling arrangements and how they criss-crossed the nation in trains with 100 or more cars.
In her life, Leitzel had many suitors — and three husbands — but the movie-star handsome Codona came closest to capturing her heart. Not surprisingly, movies were part of his life, too: After Leitzel’s death, Alfredo and Vera Bruce performed the stunts for Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan in the 1932 movie “Tarzan the Ape Man” filmed in Lake Sherwood, Ventura County, CA, which was one of the filming sites of the 1938 movie “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Before the Tarzan movie, Alfredo appeared in F. W. Murnau’s circus film ’4 Devils.”
Codona was the perfect choice for these stunts because he and his brother Lalo night after night performed death-defying stunts. Alfredo was the greatest trapeze flyer that had ever lived, the only one in his time who, on a regular basis, executed the deadliest of all big-top feats, The Triple: three somersaults in midair while traveling at 60 m.p.h. The Triple — the salto mortale, as the Italians called it – took the lives of more aerialists than any other circus stunt.
The story of Leitzel and Alfredo and their families in “Queen of the Air” reads like a novel from a master, but it’s a true story written by an author who understands circus people and what attracts them to spend their working lives in a closed entertainment community that moves from city to city.
May 9, 2019
Nothing lasts.
April 18, 2019
This was a fascinating story about the history of circuses in Europe and the US and one of the major trapeze artist of her time. Well researched and amazing!
August 14, 2013
I remember the first time I went to the circus. It was just one of those things that seemed like a rite of passage for children to be subjected to. I’m sure I was amazed by all of the sights and feats of human strength, but honestly, the only thing that I remembered was that it smelled… really bad. With my child logic, what was the point of seeing the circus when you could see the same things on TV, where it didn’t reek of elephant dung?
The circus has for our generation lost a lot of its luster. But there was a time when to be a performer meant you were a superstar, just like our celebrities today (except EXTREMELY more talented than our so called ‘celebrities’.) Lillian Leitzel is a superstar from another lifetime, one where the automobile was the newest ticket around town, there was a war in Europe, and everyone was finally coming around to women’s rights.
While I did certainly enjoy learning about the lives of the most unknown famous people in America, I have however, never been a fan of biographies. Authors tend to take certain liberties with facts, to the point where they make assumptions about what a person is thinking. Jensen is guilty of this, but he writes in such a unforgiving manner you tend to think that he actually spoke to Alfred Codona or Leitzel about their relationship. It was if he asked, “Alfred, how do you feel about Leitzel’s adultery problem? Lillian, why were you Ok with Alfred beating you, and why did you show up to your own wedding three hours late with your other lover at your side?”
Other than blatant assumptions about Leitzel’s and Alfred’s actions, this book is quite an interesting read. It was like watching a really good biography, one where I was transported to a different time for a little while. I’ll pause, and think, “I would have loved to have lived during the turn of the century.” (But then I remember that I am a woman and would have had no legal reproductive rights and be considered property. It would not be the Dowton Abbey life for this commoner.)
So I recommend this book to anyone who has ever been to the circus. It gives the reader an inside look at the life of its performers at the height of its relevance; before TV ruined everything.
The circus has for our generation lost a lot of its luster. But there was a time when to be a performer meant you were a superstar, just like our celebrities today (except EXTREMELY more talented than our so called ‘celebrities’.) Lillian Leitzel is a superstar from another lifetime, one where the automobile was the newest ticket around town, there was a war in Europe, and everyone was finally coming around to women’s rights.
While I did certainly enjoy learning about the lives of the most unknown famous people in America, I have however, never been a fan of biographies. Authors tend to take certain liberties with facts, to the point where they make assumptions about what a person is thinking. Jensen is guilty of this, but he writes in such a unforgiving manner you tend to think that he actually spoke to Alfred Codona or Leitzel about their relationship. It was if he asked, “Alfred, how do you feel about Leitzel’s adultery problem? Lillian, why were you Ok with Alfred beating you, and why did you show up to your own wedding three hours late with your other lover at your side?”
Other than blatant assumptions about Leitzel’s and Alfred’s actions, this book is quite an interesting read. It was like watching a really good biography, one where I was transported to a different time for a little while. I’ll pause, and think, “I would have loved to have lived during the turn of the century.” (But then I remember that I am a woman and would have had no legal reproductive rights and be considered property. It would not be the Dowton Abbey life for this commoner.)
So I recommend this book to anyone who has ever been to the circus. It gives the reader an inside look at the life of its performers at the height of its relevance; before TV ruined everything.
October 14, 2013
The story of Lillian Leitzel and Alfredo Codona, which I first read in a circus history book twenty years ago, is a longtime legend. But it has never been as thoroughly researched, or presented in such excellent detail, as it is in Queen of the Air.
While the book is not artfully written - Jensen is at his worst when he veers into metaphor ("...the days lay on Long Beach like a barber's steamed shaving towel") - it doesn't need to be. The enthralling story speaks for itself. And when Jensen simply lets it speak - noting, for example, without any commentary, that Lillian Leitzel's mother was 12 when she gave birth to her - our minds race with intrigue and astonishment, contemplating in awe this alternate universe of late-19th-century circus life.
I was further impressed when I read Jensen's "Acknowledgements" at the end, and discovered that much of the book's material was drawn from in-person interviews of all the famous circus characters, in the 1970s and early 1980s (they are all long gone now). It is quite possible, then, that all of the rich details in this book - related conversations, memories, impressions - are being brought to light for the first time in print.
For those of us who are practitioners of modern-day circus, this book is a resonant reminder of where we come from. And, while the outward conditions of circus artist have changed in almost every way since Lillian Leitzel's era, there are fundamentals that remain the same - the discipline of training, the focus in performance, the danger of injury.
The most pertinent information I found is that, as I am staying right now in Long Beach, CA, I have a chance to visit the gravesite monument of Leitzel and Codona. I would never have known that without this book, and I am grateful to the author for the opportunity.
I hope that many more people pick up this page-turner of a history book, and get caught up in the magic of the Golden Age of the American Circus, as I have been.
While the book is not artfully written - Jensen is at his worst when he veers into metaphor ("...the days lay on Long Beach like a barber's steamed shaving towel") - it doesn't need to be. The enthralling story speaks for itself. And when Jensen simply lets it speak - noting, for example, without any commentary, that Lillian Leitzel's mother was 12 when she gave birth to her - our minds race with intrigue and astonishment, contemplating in awe this alternate universe of late-19th-century circus life.
I was further impressed when I read Jensen's "Acknowledgements" at the end, and discovered that much of the book's material was drawn from in-person interviews of all the famous circus characters, in the 1970s and early 1980s (they are all long gone now). It is quite possible, then, that all of the rich details in this book - related conversations, memories, impressions - are being brought to light for the first time in print.
For those of us who are practitioners of modern-day circus, this book is a resonant reminder of where we come from. And, while the outward conditions of circus artist have changed in almost every way since Lillian Leitzel's era, there are fundamentals that remain the same - the discipline of training, the focus in performance, the danger of injury.
The most pertinent information I found is that, as I am staying right now in Long Beach, CA, I have a chance to visit the gravesite monument of Leitzel and Codona. I would never have known that without this book, and I am grateful to the author for the opportunity.
I hope that many more people pick up this page-turner of a history book, and get caught up in the magic of the Golden Age of the American Circus, as I have been.
January 8, 2013
At the turn of the 20th century, Lillian Leitzel was a circus superstar, her name known by millions. As a trapeze artist, she had no equal. Born in Germany in 1892, she learned her craft by watching her mother and her aunts, an act known as the Leamy Ladies. She began appearing in the United States with Barnum & Bailey in 1908, and began developing her signature act in which she would throw her body over her shoulder again and again while the rapt audience kept count. While she was courted by many men, and married to three of them, the love of her life seemed to be Alfredo Codona. Theirs was a storybook, albeit bittersweet, romance.
Queen of the Air is a fascinating look at the life of an early superstar. Dean Jensen has done a remarkable job of bringing her story to life in this compelling read. Anyone who has ever watched in fascination as the circus stars and acrobats perform will not be able to put down this book until the very end.
5 STARS
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Edelweiss book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Queen of the Air is a fascinating look at the life of an early superstar. Dean Jensen has done a remarkable job of bringing her story to life in this compelling read. Anyone who has ever watched in fascination as the circus stars and acrobats perform will not be able to put down this book until the very end.
5 STARS
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Edelweiss book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
October 28, 2015
There's plenty of interesting historical background information. I enjoy reading about living conditions of people during this time period.
The best thing about the book, to me, is imagining someone so rich, so powerful, and mostly so Capital-F-Famous... who is now completely unknown to us (me).
Whereas the other performers of her caliber from that time (who are often named-checked) -- Charlie Chaplin, WC Fields, Will Rogers, The Marx Brothers, etc. are more than recognizable to me, her name I had never heard. I suppose "Anonymous" is a woman, as they say.
I also enjoyed thinking about the origins of circus, and was surprised to learn how big a part of public entertainment it was during this era (really! quite big!). While I realize that it makes sense that a book with this topic would promote that idea, I gather from other things I've read that it is, in fact, true.
I thought often of Cirque de Soliel, and wondered about the conditions of the lives of those performers. I can't think of any circus-type performers nowadays who anyone outside of the community knows by name. We are less impressed by these such things.
This book is a bit boring. I kept reading, waiting for it to really fascinate or draw me in. Like a whiny child, I will now point out that the book doesn't have enough pictures. Or, uh, embedded youtube videos. :-/ Descriptions of her beauty and her death-defying acts are compelling the first few times, but they do wear.
The best thing about the book, to me, is imagining someone so rich, so powerful, and mostly so Capital-F-Famous... who is now completely unknown to us (me).
Whereas the other performers of her caliber from that time (who are often named-checked) -- Charlie Chaplin, WC Fields, Will Rogers, The Marx Brothers, etc. are more than recognizable to me, her name I had never heard. I suppose "Anonymous" is a woman, as they say.
I also enjoyed thinking about the origins of circus, and was surprised to learn how big a part of public entertainment it was during this era (really! quite big!). While I realize that it makes sense that a book with this topic would promote that idea, I gather from other things I've read that it is, in fact, true.
I thought often of Cirque de Soliel, and wondered about the conditions of the lives of those performers. I can't think of any circus-type performers nowadays who anyone outside of the community knows by name. We are less impressed by these such things.
This book is a bit boring. I kept reading, waiting for it to really fascinate or draw me in. Like a whiny child, I will now point out that the book doesn't have enough pictures. Or, uh, embedded youtube videos. :-/ Descriptions of her beauty and her death-defying acts are compelling the first few times, but they do wear.
July 18, 2013
Thank you Goodreads First Reads for this book.
The circus is a fascinating subject, but I am not sure how many of us really understand how big the big top was before entertainment forms such as TV and film took over. Jensen's book not only follows the lives and careers of some of the most prominent stars of what used to be the most dominant form of entertainment, but also paints a vivid picture of a half a century of an ever changing world of politics, arts, and econimics surrounding the circus community.
Perhaps the best and worst part of Jensen's book is the two main "characters," the Queen of the Air, and the Great Cordona. They seem to have been dazzling as stars, beautiful as celebrities, and extremely talented and driven as circus artists. They also have a way way of making the reader cringe often with their self-centered actions, but perhaps these make them real. Alas, otherwise, one could not believe such creatures ever existed.
The historical detail, and the information covered in the book is fascinating and engaging, except for bits where Jensen's writing gets a bit unfocused. But the story has a life of its own, and it moves, I shoud say towards the end it hurtles, well.
Recommended for those who like ariel arts, side shows, the first part of the 20th century, and men in tights.
The circus is a fascinating subject, but I am not sure how many of us really understand how big the big top was before entertainment forms such as TV and film took over. Jensen's book not only follows the lives and careers of some of the most prominent stars of what used to be the most dominant form of entertainment, but also paints a vivid picture of a half a century of an ever changing world of politics, arts, and econimics surrounding the circus community.
Perhaps the best and worst part of Jensen's book is the two main "characters," the Queen of the Air, and the Great Cordona. They seem to have been dazzling as stars, beautiful as celebrities, and extremely talented and driven as circus artists. They also have a way way of making the reader cringe often with their self-centered actions, but perhaps these make them real. Alas, otherwise, one could not believe such creatures ever existed.
The historical detail, and the information covered in the book is fascinating and engaging, except for bits where Jensen's writing gets a bit unfocused. But the story has a life of its own, and it moves, I shoud say towards the end it hurtles, well.
Recommended for those who like ariel arts, side shows, the first part of the 20th century, and men in tights.
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