“Barnum had dedicated his life to amusing people. His goal, wrote historian Philip B. Kunhardt, was ‘to awaken a sleeping sense of wonder, to help open the eyes of his fellow citizens to the amazing diversity of the human and natural world.’ To do this, he had introduced them to the rare, the strange, the beautiful, and the exotic.” (p. 2)
Fleming, Candace. The great and only Barnum: The tremendous, stupendous life of showman P.T. Barnum. New York: Schwartz & Wade. 2009.
Genre: Nonfiction
Review:
Today Barnum’s name is usually associated with the circus—but he didn’t get into the circus business until later in life and in fact did a great many amazing things before that. P. T. Barnum was an inventive and charismatic businessman from early in life, loved a good joke, and enjoyed coming up with grand and elaborate ideas and then putting them into being (in shockingly short periods of time)—no matter who said it couldn’t be done or what obstacles were put in his way. Who else but Barnum could turn an old lackluster museum into a wondrous attraction that drew crowds the world over? Who but Barnum could quickly turn a little-known singer into a wide-spread sensation? And who but Barnum could, at the age of sixty, revolutionize the world of circus entertainment?
Interspaced with quotes, photographs, news clippings, and other memorabilia, Fleming’s book does a great job of exploring the different aspects of Barnum’s life. Interesting stories and asides help to bring events into perspective and help to illustrate the extraordinary individual that Barnum was. The author does not shy away from discussing the showman’s bad points as well as his good allowing readers to see faults along with triumphs. Overall, an interesting read full of surprising information.