A review by jeremyanderberg
Battle for the Big Top: P.T. Barnum, James Bailey, John Ringling and the Death-Defying Saga of the American Circus by Les Standiford

3.0

After watching The Greatest Showman with my kids for the millionth time, I figured it was time to get some of the real history of the circus industry in America. I enjoy Standiford, and it was certainly good enough, but I liked his other books better for some reason. Given the scope of time it covers and the various characters, I think he just went too broad and there wasn't quite enough of a through-line narrative to keep the pages turning very quickly. Again, still good, but I had higher hopes.