Circus is a part of showbusiness. In the Shadow of the Big Top: The Life of Ringling’s Unlikely Circus Savior by Maureen Brunsdale chronicles the lives of two extraordinary showpeople who had a major impact on the business aspects of the circus in the 20th Century.

Arthur Concello and his wife Antoinette were a circus industry power couple. Both were center-ring trapeze artists on the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Both accomplished the legendary triple somersault. And both went on to senior leadership positions in the circus industry: Arthur as general manager of The Greatest Show on Earth, and Antoinette as director of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus aerial ballet.

Starting with their childhoods, author Maureen Brunsdale recounts the professional and personal lives of the Concellos from 1911 until Arthur’s death in 2001. After reading this scholarly and well-documented book (there are almost forty pages of endnotes and bibliography), you will not only know what made these two people circus legends, but you will have also learned a great deal about the history of the American circus.

With the precision of a forensic accountant, the author explains the financial arrangements and partnerships that Arthur used to help keep The Greatest Show on Earth on the road during both good times and tough times. But this book is also a love story. With the skill of a romance novelist, the author explores both the good times and tough times of the complicated relationship between this circus industry power couple. You will get to know Arthur and Antoinette as real people and not just as characters in a circus history book.

Longevity is a valuable attribute in the circus industry. Circus people proudly talk about being members of nine- and ten-generation circus families. Circuses routinely advertise the number of years they have been in business.

Although the Concellos were first-generation circus people, they both achieved longevity in the circus industry. Because of the discipline and countless hours of practice required to become world-class aerialists, they both understood what distinguishes the circus from other forms of show business. Arthur was adept at the logistical and financial aspects of the circus, and Antoinette understood the artistry of the circus. She knew exactly what to do to make an aerial performance look beautiful.

I highly recommend this wonderfully written book to circus historians, fans, and especially to circus students who are contemplating a career in the circus.

Bruce Hawley

Bruce Hawley is a lifelong circus enthusiast. After retiring from the US Air Force as a brigadier general and from a multinational insurance company as an executive vice president, Bruce was elected to the boards of several circus-related nonprofits. He is currently a member of the board of trustees of the Barnum Museum and the Circus Fans Association of America. He is also the president of the Circus Historical Society.