‘Circus of Wonders’ by Elizabeth Macneal

Having absolutely adored Elizabeth Macneal’s debut novel, ‘The Doll Factory’, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I was so sure that I would love this book that I’ve also pre-ordered the independent bookshop hardback version…so pretty!

I can now confirm that this has proved money well spent!

The story centres on Nell, a young woman with birthmarks all over her body and who is sold to the circus by her father. The circus is run by Jasper Jupiter, a veteran of the Crimean War, and his brother, Toby. Jasper restyles Nell as Nellie Moon, Queen of the Moon and Stars, and builds a show around her that takes the circus to a London pleasure garden, a pitch that was previously out of the realms of possibility for the touring troupe. However, with Nell’s rise to fame comes many other things – a chance at love, a divide between brothers and a risky bargain with a dangerous man.

As anticipated, this is a beautifully-written book that brings the sights and sounds of the Victorian circus alive for readers, as well as the battlefields of Crimea. The various acts in the circus – the bearded lady, the albino child, Nell herself – are presented with depth and humanity and it is always clear that they are so much more than the traits that mark them out as worthy of exhibition.

The narrative shifts between Nell, Jasper and Toby and they are all engaging and interesting in their own rights. Nell’s rise to fame is compelling as she gains in confidence and finds her support network in the circus – the feminist message about female friendship is an unexpected bonus in the novel. However, the relationship between the brothers was what I ultimately found most intriguing. It was fascinating to watch the dominant brother, Jasper, knocked off kilter by his decisions and inability to cede the limelight to Nell just as Toby started to find his place in the world.

I always knew that this book would be a personal hit – the author, the setting and the themes were always going to tick boxes for me – but I will admit to being surprised by the novel’s plot. I don’t want to give spoilers so I can only say that the subtlety with which the main characters are drawn means that I wasn’t sure how I wanted the book to end. For this reason, the ending has left me with lots of food for thought and a slight sense that one of the characters perhaps has been ill-served.

This is a highly immersive and engaging tale and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction with depth and heart. The settings are vibrant, the characters human and flawed, the plot unpredictable – and I loved it.

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Header photo with thanks to Gavin Allanwood on Unsplash.