Overview

Philip Astley first pegged out his circular 'ride' on the banks of the Thames in 1768 and so laid down the foundations of the modern circus. Performing feats of trick riding with his wife Patty Jones, little did he realise that before long women would become a dominant force in the circus. Sawdust Sisterhood explores how the circus empowered women and gave them the opportunity to compete and succeed as performers in their own right in an otherwise masculine world. Drawing upon historical news reports and contemporary interviews, the book explores the lives of female circus performers and focuses upon several of the more well-known artistes from across two centuries of circus, including; Madame Saqui, the renowned French wire-walker of the early nineteenth century; Nellie Chapman, the Victorian 'Lion Queen' of Wombwells's Menagerie and Circus; and Katie Brumbach, otherwise known as Sandwina, perhaps the most famous Strongwoman of the twentieth century. Sawdust Sisterhood acknowledges the role of the female circus performer across the centuries.

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9781781555309

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Reviews

Sensation is one of those qualities a successful circus must have, and almost from its very beginning that was provided by women, and ultimately that is what this book strives to produce as well, often succeeding quite admirably. --Spectacle Magazine

Sensation is one of those qualities a successful circus must have, and almost from its very beginning that was provided by women, and ultimately that is what this book strives to produce as well, often succeeding quite admirably. -- Spectacle Magazine

Author Information

A former performer, teacher and director of a prize winning youth circus, STEVE WARD has worked with circus groups worldwide. He also has an MA researching the role of circus within education. Steve later founded the National Association of Youth Circus and his Leeds based group Circus Zanni won several awards. He has written widely on the circus and his latest book 'Beneath the Big Top; A Social History of the Circus in Britain' was published in 2014. Today Steve works as a genealogist and freelance writer, although he still occasionally performs, creates and directs circus shows.

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