It was a midsummer afternoon, halfway through a Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus performance, when the big top caught fire. The tent had been waterproofed with a mixture of paraffin and gasoline; in seconds it was burning out of control. More than 8,000 people were trapped inside, and the ensuing disaster would eventually take 167 lives.
Stewart O'Nan brings all his narrative gifts to bear on this gripping account of the great Hartford circus fire of 1944. Drawing on interviews with hundreds of survivors, O'Nan skillfully re-creates the horrific events and illuminates the psychological oddities of human behavior under stress: the mad scramble for the exits; the perilous effort to maneuver animals out of danger; the hero who tossed dozens of children to safety before being trampled to death. Brilliantly constructed and exceptionally moving, The Circus Fire is history at its most compelling.
Stewart O'Nan brings all his narrative gifts to bear on this gripping account of the great Hartford circus fire of 1944. Drawing on interviews with hundreds of survivors, O'Nan skillfully re-creates the horrific events and illuminates the psychological oddities of human behavior under stress: the mad scramble for the exits; the perilous effort to maneuver animals out of danger; the hero who tossed dozens of children to safety before being trampled to death. Brilliantly constructed and exceptionally moving, The Circus Fire is history at its most compelling.
Used availability for Stewart O'Nan's The Circus Fire
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
June 2000 : Hardback
| Title: The Circus Fire: A True Story Author(s): Stewart O'Nan ISBN: 0-385-49684-2 / 978-0-385-49684-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Doubleday Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Paperback Editions
June 2001 : Paperback
| Title: The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy Author(s): Stewart O'Nan ISBN: 0-385-49685-0 / 978-0-385-49685-8 (USA edition) Publisher: Anchor Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
2000 : Paperback
| Title: The Circus Fire Author(s): Stewart O'NAN Publisher: Doubleday Availability: Amazon More details... |
Audio Editions
November 2004 : MP3 CD
| Title: The Circus Fire Author(s): Stewart O'Nan ISBN: 1-59600-483-5 / 9781596004832 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
November 2004 : MP3 CD
| Title: The Circus Fire Author(s): Stewart O'Nan ISBN: 1-59600-484-3 / 9781596004849 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD Lib Ed Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 2001 : Audio Cassette
| Title: The Circus Fire Author(s): Hill Dick, O'Nan Stewart ISBN: 1-58788-298-1 / 9781587882982 (USA edition) Publisher: Paperback Nova Audio Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 2000 : Audio Cassette
| Title: The Circus Fire Author(s): Stewart O'Nan ISBN: 1-56740-392-1 / 9781567403923 (USA edition) Publisher: Brilliance Audio Unabridged Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 2000 : Audio Cassette
| Title: The Circus Fire Author(s): Stewart O'Nan ISBN: 1-56740-936-9 / 9781567409369 (USA edition) Publisher: Nova Audio Books Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
June 2000 : Audio Cassette
| Title: The Circus Fire Author(s): Stewart O'Nan ISBN: 1-56740-937-7 / 9781567409376 (USA edition) Publisher: Unabridged Library Edition Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 2000 : Audio Cassette
| Title: The Circus Fire Author(s): Stewart O'Nan, Dick Hill Availability: Amazon More details... |
Other Editions
February 2002 : Turtleback
| Title: Circus Fire Author(s): Stewart O'Nan ISBN: 0-606-22365-7 / 978-0-606-22365-2 (USA edition) Publisher: Demco Media Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
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