Leitzel grew up wanting to be like her
mother, Nellie, a famous trapeze artist. She loved performing and
when she got the chance to join her mother's act, she quickly out
paced her. Alfredo Codona, also grew up in the circus. His parents
were both trapeze artists. As a baby his father took him flying in
his act in a pouch attached to his waist.
Leitzel's introduction to the circus
was at the top in an act in which her mother was a star. Alfredo's
family had a small circus that traveled from town to town around
Europe. However, he was a serious aerialist and made it into the
larger circuses as a member of the Flying Codonas. The book makes it
clear that while the life of a circus performer was hard. These two
loved the attention and loved flying high above the crowd.
The pair came together as King and
Queen of the combined Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus. They
fell in love, married, but didn't live happily ever after. Their
union led to tragedy both for themselves and those close to them.
I enjoyed this book. I learned about
circuses large and small. If you're fascinated by the circus life
you'll love this book. I thought the main characters were well
portrayed. The author gives enough of their early life that you can
see their intense desire to excel in the big top. The picture of life
in the circus is not all glamor. It was a hard, demanding life, but
if you craved stardom and were good, it had many rewards.
I reviewed this book for the Amazon Vi
ne Program.
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