book cover of Circus of Wonders
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Circus of Wonders

(2021)
A novel by

 
 
Step right up for the most captivating read of the year . . .

Filled with the sights and sounds of Victorian England, Circus of Wonders is the instant Sunday Times bestseller from Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory.

‘Intensely satisfying’ – Stacey Halls, author of
The Familiars

England, 1866. When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in a coastal village, Nell soon catches the showman’s eye. Shunned by her community because of the birthmarks speckling her skin, to Jasper she is a prize – she could be his very own leopard girl. But how to make her his?

Soon Nell finds herself the star of Jasper’s show. Suddenly she is famous. Crowds rush to watch her soar through the air. Even Queen Victoria wants to see her perform. But is Nell free to live and love as she chooses? And when her fame begins to eclipse Jasper’s own, could she be in danger? After all, the higher you fly, the steeper the fall . . .

‘Filled with character and life’ – The Times
‘Utterly beguiling’ –
Daily Mail
‘Brilliantly involving’ –
Daily Express
‘Exhilarating’ –
Sunday Times, Books of the Year
‘An immersive gem’ –
Red
‘Joyous, frightening, heartbreaking’ –
Independent
‘Deliciously vivid’ –
Woman & Home

The Burial Plot
, Elizabeth's latest cat-and-mouse thriller, is available now!

Genre: Historical

Praise for this book

"A glittering, begrimed tale of love and self-determination flush with richly detailed prose. Sumptuous, macabre, enthralling; a perfect slice of Victoriana." - Jane Healey

"A beautifully told and immersive look at a complex dance between exploitation and empowerment, and the question of what it really means to have control over your own life. I adored its characters, I was utterly gripped throughout, and I loved having my eyes opened to the troubling yet fascinating world of Victorian circuses." - Naomi Ishiguro

"Circus of Wonders is a soaring, tumbling, whip-cracking book. Elizabeth Macneal has brought an extraordinary group of characters together in these pages; the result is a glittering world, a story as moving as it is deeply entertaining." - Daniel Mason

"Elizabeth Macneal's novel is spectacular - a book of wonders!" - Alix Nathan

"I loved THE DOLL FACTORY and I loved CIRCUS OF WONDERS just as much ... An intriguing and beautifully written love story as well as an exploration of the journey from rejection to adoration ... Elizabeth Macneal explores the nature of exploitation, pride and vanity through her vibrant and believable characters." - Jenny Quintana


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