50 pages 1 hour read

Angela Carter

Nights at the Circus

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1984

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter follows journalist Jack Walser as he investigates Sophie Fevvers, a woman with swan's wings who performs as an aerialist at Colonel Kearney’s circus, by joining the circus undercover. The story unfolds in 1899, revealing Fevvers’s extraordinary past and the circus’s journey across Russia, culminating in a series of supernatural and transformative events. The novel contains depictions of violence and exploitation.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus is celebrated for its imaginative narrative, rich character development, and feminist themes. Critics admire Carter's witty and evocative prose. However, some find the plot meandering and overly fantastical. Overall, it’s praised for its originality and depth, appealing to readers interested in subversive storytelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Nights at the Circus?

Fans of magical realism, Victorian settings, and feminist themes will relish Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter. Readers of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude and Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children will find Carter's imaginative narrative and richly layered characters equally captivating.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Magical Realism

Fantasy

Topics

Gender / Feminism

History: World

Themes

Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Natural World: Appearance & Reality