First published 1995
Bruce Feiler abandons his comfortable life to join a traveling circus as a clown. He packs his bags and embarks on a 9,100-mile odyssey across America, learning to apply makeup, perfect pratfalls, and entertain crowds under canvas tents. The reality of circus life proves far more complex than his childhood dreams suggested. Feiler discovers a world filled with wonder and artistry, but also physical peril and financial uncertainty. He encounters seasoned performers who have dedicated their lives to this nomadic existence, each carrying their own stories of sacrifice and passion. As the miles accumulate and the shows blur together, Feiler gains insight into both the circus community and the diverse American landscape they traverse. The greasepaint washes off each night, but the experience transforms his understanding of performance, community, and the courage required to live an unconventional life.
Genres: adventure, contemporary, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unconventional-life
Setting: America
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Hardcover · Scribner