Under the Big Top

“Under the Big Top” by Bruce Feiler was an excellent read, revealing the intricate social hierarchy of the circus. Feiler joined the circus and over the course of that one year, went from being a complete outcast to becoming an accepted insider. Throughout his time with the circus, he interviewed every performer. I found what each performer had to say fascinating. They each differed from each other on many levels, but there were always several ideas tying them together. Most of them had a love/hate relationship with the circus. The remaining few just hated it—it was their back-up plan, their alternative, and they had many places they rather be, but had neither the will nor the money to leave. One character I found particularly interesting was in this group. However, what set him apart from the rest is that he did find a way out. He left the circus. But, he came back, not telling why he really left or returned. It was unspoken, yet understood, that although he grieved about the circus, he couldn’t live with out it, which is a theme repeated throughout the book. Feiler captured the spirit and character of the circus, by getting to know the performers, who had a life time of experience to share with him.