Circus and Sideshow in the Long Nineteenth Century: A Documentary History

This is a history of circus clowning in the long nineteenth century, told through original documents. It demonstrates how particular types, acts and stunts originated, were performed and underwent variation over time. The equestrian and acrobatic clown, the august and the eccentric all receive attention. This constitutes a genealogy or “gagography” of clowning, told through eye-witness accounts, memoirs, contemporary reportage and interviews, accompanied by commentary and annotation. The coverage is international, moving beyond the anglophone world via translations from French, German, Swedish, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese sources. Although it covers the “usual suspects” from Ducrow to Grock, this book introduces the reader to many important and overlooked clowns.