Dean N. Jensen
Teoksen Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus tekijä
Tekijän teokset
Merkitty avainsanalla
Yleistieto
- Sukupuoli
- male
Jäseniä
Kirja-arvosteluja
Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy… Tekijä: Dean N. Jensen
This nonfiction book is about Lillian Leitzel, the most famous woman in the world at the height of her aerial talent, and her almost but not quite as famous third husband Alfredo Cardona, a trapeze artist. They both were the star attractions for the Ringling Bros. Circus in the early 1900s, with back stories and lives so dramatic and tragic they almost seem fictional. The author did a good job telling their stories. The narrator of the audiobook version was superb.
Audiobook performed by Emma Bering
Subtitle: A True Story of Love & Tragedy at the Circus
From the book jacket: Dean Jensen’s Queen of the Air brings the circus world alive through the gorgeously written story of renowned aerialist Lillian Leitzel, and her star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codonas. Like today’s Beyonce and Madonna, the book’s heroine was known to her vast public by just one name: Leitzel. There may have been some regions on earth where her name was not a household word, but if so, they were likely on polar ice caps or in the darkest, deepest jungles. Leitzel and Alfredo were the biggest stars of the most famous road show ever produced, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
My Reactions
Wow … just wow. This is a love story, a tragedy to rival Shakespeare, a history of early twentieth century America, and a thrilling adventure. When I was a child in San Antonio Texas, I frequently visited the Hertzberg Circus Museum, which was then housed on one floor of the main public library. (It is now, sadly, in storage with the Witte Museum, available only to scholars.) How I loved looking at those exhibits of carriages used by General Tom Thumb, posters of aerialists, lion-tamers, clowns and side-show attractions. I was completely fascinated by it, but do not remember anything about Leitzel and Alfredo.
So their story was a complete surprise to me. I was enthralled and captivated by their story. Leitzel was truly a S*T*A*R – showered with gifts and admiration, the highest-paid and most pampered performer in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She met and was entertained by titans of industry (rumor has it that Henry Ford was among her lovers), Hollywood and Broadway stars, and even the President.
Like Leitzel, Alfredo and his brother Lalo grew up in the circus. They were the first to perfect and publicly perform The Triple. The love affair between these two stars of the air was passionate, tempestuous, and tragic.
In the author’s acknowledgments Jensen writes that it took him some thirty years to write the book. He hated his first draft, penned in the 1980s, and put it in a drawer while he pursued other things. But the story could not stay dormant: “The story of Leitzel and Alfredo was the greatest one the big top has ever had to tell. They presided over an ever-relocating sawdust-and-rainbows-made Camelot where, one after another, wonderments kept occurring. Their love story was epic. … Their story moved in the arc of a Greek tragedy, and, I believe, was complete with mischievous fates and vengeful gods.”
Emma Bering does a fine job narrating the audio book. I felt the tension and exhilaration of the daring fetes performed by this circus stars. I’m glad I listened to this engaging story, but also glad that I got the hardcover edition to I could check spellings for names, etc. The printed book includes the author’s acknowledgments as well as several pages of photographs of Leitzel and Alfredo and their families.… (lisätietoja)
Subtitle: A True Story of Love & Tragedy at the Circus
From the book jacket: Dean Jensen’s Queen of the Air brings the circus world alive through the gorgeously written story of renowned aerialist Lillian Leitzel, and her star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codonas. Like today’s Beyonce and Madonna, the book’s heroine was known to her vast public by just one name: Leitzel. There may have been some regions on earth where her name was not a household word, but if so, they were likely on polar ice caps or in the darkest, deepest jungles. Leitzel and Alfredo were the biggest stars of the most famous road show ever produced, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
My Reactions
Wow … just wow. This is a love story, a tragedy to rival Shakespeare, a history of early twentieth century America, and a thrilling adventure. When I was a child in San Antonio Texas, I frequently visited the Hertzberg Circus Museum, which was then housed on one floor of the main public library. (It is now, sadly, in storage with the Witte Museum, available only to scholars.) How I loved looking at those exhibits of carriages used by General Tom Thumb, posters of aerialists, lion-tamers, clowns and side-show attractions. I was completely fascinated by it, but do not remember anything about Leitzel and Alfredo.
So their story was a complete surprise to me. I was enthralled and captivated by their story. Leitzel was truly a S*T*A*R – showered with gifts and admiration, the highest-paid and most pampered performer in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She met and was entertained by titans of industry (rumor has it that Henry Ford was among her lovers), Hollywood and Broadway stars, and even the President.
Like Leitzel, Alfredo and his brother Lalo grew up in the circus. They were the first to perfect and publicly perform The Triple. The love affair between these two stars of the air was passionate, tempestuous, and tragic.
In the author’s acknowledgments Jensen writes that it took him some thirty years to write the book. He hated his first draft, penned in the 1980s, and put it in a drawer while he pursued other things. But the story could not stay dormant: “The story of Leitzel and Alfredo was the greatest one the big top has ever had to tell. They presided over an ever-relocating sawdust-and-rainbows-made Camelot where, one after another, wonderments kept occurring. Their love story was epic. … Their story moved in the arc of a Greek tragedy, and, I believe, was complete with mischievous fates and vengeful gods.”
Emma Bering does a fine job narrating the audio book. I felt the tension and exhilaration of the daring fetes performed by this circus stars. I’m glad I listened to this engaging story, but also glad that I got the hardcover edition to I could check spellings for names, etc. The printed book includes the author’s acknowledgments as well as several pages of photographs of Leitzel and Alfredo and their families.… (lisätietoja)
Thank you Goodreads First Reads for this book.
The circus is a fascinating subject, but I am not sure how many of us really understand how big the big top was before entertainment forms such as TV and film took over. Jensen's book not only follows the lives and careers of some of the most prominent stars of what used to be the most dominant form of entertainment, but also paints a vivid picture of a half a century of an ever changing world of politics, arts, and econimics surrounding the circus community.
Perhaps the best and worst part of Jensen's book is the two main "characters," the Queen of the Air, and the Great Cordona. They seem to have been dazzling as stars, beautiful as celebrities, and extremely talented and driven as circus artists. They also have a way way of making the reader cringe often with their self-centered actions, but perhaps these make them real. Alas, otherwise, one could not believe such creatures ever existed.
The historical detail, and the information covered in the book is fascinating and engaging, except for bits where Jensen's writing gets a bit unfocused. But the story has a life of its own, and it moves, I shoud say towards the end it hurtles, well.
Recommended for those who like ariel arts, side shows, the first part of the 20th century, and men in tights.… (lisätietoja)
The circus is a fascinating subject, but I am not sure how many of us really understand how big the big top was before entertainment forms such as TV and film took over. Jensen's book not only follows the lives and careers of some of the most prominent stars of what used to be the most dominant form of entertainment, but also paints a vivid picture of a half a century of an ever changing world of politics, arts, and econimics surrounding the circus community.
Perhaps the best and worst part of Jensen's book is the two main "characters," the Queen of the Air, and the Great Cordona. They seem to have been dazzling as stars, beautiful as celebrities, and extremely talented and driven as circus artists. They also have a way way of making the reader cringe often with their self-centered actions, but perhaps these make them real. Alas, otherwise, one could not believe such creatures ever existed.
The historical detail, and the information covered in the book is fascinating and engaging, except for bits where Jensen's writing gets a bit unfocused. But the story has a life of its own, and it moves, I shoud say towards the end it hurtles, well.
Recommended for those who like ariel arts, side shows, the first part of the 20th century, and men in tights.… (lisätietoja)
The true story of trapeze artist Leitzel, Queen of the Air, the most famous woman in the world at the turn of the 20th century,or so says the book, and her star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codona Brothers.
It's a good evocation of the times. I had never heard of Leitzel before this book. A fascinating read.
It's a good evocation of the times. I had never heard of Leitzel before this book. A fascinating read.
Tilastot
- Teokset
- 1
- Jäseniä
- 110
- Suosituimmuussija
- #176,729
- Arvio (tähdet)
- 3.7
- Kirja-arvosteluja
- 22
- ISBN:t
- 4
