Circus Days Under the Big Top were exciting times for children and adults alike, for the circus meant snarling tigers and roaring lions, daring acrobats, high-stepping horses, and lovely ladies dancing on the high wire, as well as a street parade.

This fascinating account of the circus tells its history from the Circus Maximus of Roman times, through the traveling "mud shows" of the early 1800's, to the present, when this American institution performs in auditoriums and covered arenas rather than under canvas. Emphasis, however, is on the Golden Age of the circus, beginning with the rise of such circus giants as P. T. Barnum in 1870. Here, complete with the blare of trumpets, clash of cymbals, and rattle of drums, is the story of the circus as it was performed under the "Big Top." Both the outward glitter and the real behind-the-scenes life of the performers and other circus people are described with color. Readers get a first-hand view of the circus lot, where men and animals put up the canvas city in which the exciting show would take place. Here, too, is an accurate picture of the backyard of the circus, where the circus performers really lived.

This book is part of the How They Lived series, designed to give young people a wider and more comprehensive view of American history, and thus a deeper understanding and more lasting appreciation of their heritage.

From the book