THE ADVANCE MAN: A JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF THE CIRCUS (paperback)
Finalist 2010 Marfield Prize - National Award for Arts Writing. Uniquely, the award is devoted exclusively to non-fiction books about the arts; from media, visual and literature to the performing arts.
“THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE CIRCUS had passed but under Irvin Feld, the ruthless, unpredictable, super salesman, another golden age of promotion had just begun.”
And so begins the extraordinary tale of The Advance Man. It’s a history, a love story, and a tale of self-discovery. And as much, it’s a captivating inside look at Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Richly textured and meticulously researched, The Advance Man is an incomparable bridge from the past to the present. It is a spellbinding narrative inhabited by strange and seductive characters like Chang and Eng, the Siamese twins who couldn’t be engaged in two different conversations simultaneously; and the smallest man in the world who continuously stymied the show’s most virile man.
From San Diego to Cleveland to moss draped, beguiling Savannah, the story illuminates the fabric of American cities – and reveals a tapestry of who we are. But as events gather speed, catapulting the reader and the advance man down a heart-pounding track, it becomes easy to forget that “sometimes the most complex illusions have the simplest explanations.”
Artfully, MacVicar invites us into a world of splashing color. Whether you are a history or circus enthusiast, a student of business, or just the lover of a remarkable yarn, the ride will be memorable, as unforgettable as a childhood night at the circus.
Hard-back edition – Beautifully crafted. 660 pages plus a 16-page center-spread with nearly forty historical photos. Signed copy on request.
The author, Jamie MacVicar, is also available for appearances, including a “Live Documentary” excerpted from the history section. Over 160 images bring the fascinating people and events of the circus to life. Contact the author at jmacvicar@Cox.net.
A DVD, “Looking Back”, narrated by Jamie MacVicar is also now available.