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The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy

Stewart O'Nan

3.95/5 (2396 ratings)

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The acclaimed author of A Prayer for the Dying brings all his narrative gifts to bear on this gripping account of tragedy and heroism-the great Hartford circus fire of 1944.

Halfway through a midsummer afternoon performance, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus's big top caught fire. The tent had been waterproofed with a mixture of paraffin and gasoline; in seconds it was burning out of control, and more than 8,000 people were trapped inside. 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 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.

Format:

Pages:: pages

Publication:

Publisher:: Anchor

Edition:: Illustrated

Language:: eng

ISBN10:: 0385496850

ISBN13:: 9780385496858

kindle Asin:: B001NJUOF8

The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy

Stewart O'Nan

3.95/5 (2396 ratings)

Read Download

The acclaimed author of A Prayer for the Dying brings all his narrative gifts to bear on this gripping account of tragedy and heroism-the great Hartford circus fire of 1944.

Halfway through a midsummer afternoon performance, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus's big top caught fire. The tent had been waterproofed with a mixture of paraffin and gasoline; in seconds it was burning out of control, and more than 8,000 people were trapped inside. 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 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.

Format:

Pages:: pages

Publication:

Publisher:: Anchor

Edition:: Illustrated

Language:: eng

ISBN10:: 0385496850

ISBN13:: 9780385496858

kindle Asin:: B001NJUOF8

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