Worlds of the Ring
Nation and Empire in the British and German Circus
Published on 4. February 2025
224 pages
978-1-5261-7508-3 (ISBN)
Description
Worlds of the Ring is a groundbreaking exploration of the interwar European circus scene, focusing on the German Sarrasani and British Bertram W. Mills' circuses. This study illuminates the correlation between the circus's evolution and imperialism/nationalism, revealing how these enterprises shaped national identities for popular audiences. Examining the years 1918-45, the book takes a transnational perspective, uncovering the interplay of international and national forces that influenced the modern circus. Through case studies, it delves into the lives of individuals in the industry, using diverse sources like newspapers, legal documents, and performer archives. The book introduces the concept of Orientalism to analyse how circuses depicted foreign worlds, and provides a fresh perspective on interwar popular culture, globalising forces, and the circus's ties to European imperialism in the early 20th century. -- .
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
20 illustrations
ISBN-13
978-1-5261-7508-3 (9781526175083)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
01/2025
Manchester University Press
€125.20
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Sabine Hanke is a Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Tuebingen. -- .
Content
Introduction
1 Modernity and the circus
2 Training, risk and celebrity: wild animals and human stars
3 Half-human, half-animal: the lure of empire in the British circus
4 Germany's native kin: the Wild West at the Sarrasani Circus
5 Juggling entertainment and control: wartime circus performances
Conclusion
Index -- .
1 Modernity and the circus
2 Training, risk and celebrity: wild animals and human stars
3 Half-human, half-animal: the lure of empire in the British circus
4 Germany's native kin: the Wild West at the Sarrasani Circus
5 Juggling entertainment and control: wartime circus performances
Conclusion
Index -- .
