The Circus” title in bold, vintage-style lettering over a canvas circus tent background, with the subtitle “Big Tent. Big Dreams.” and PBS American Experience branding.

Beyond the Script: Denver Public Library’s Guide to Water for Elephants

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Denver Public Library resources to enhance your experience at Water for Elephants

 

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TThe Circus” title in bold, vintage-style lettering over a canvas circus tent background, with the subtitle “Big Tent. Big Dreams.” and PBS American Experience branding.he Ordinary Acrobat: A Journey Into the Wondrous World of the Circus, Past and Present

by Duncan Wall

Duncan Wall was an American Fulbright scholar in France when he decided to enroll in the École Nationale des Arts du Cirque, a school for circus performers. The Ordinary Acrobat is Wall’s account of his time there, interwoven with a history of the circus, from the earliest days to contemporary acts like Cirque du Soleil.

WATCH 

Movie poster for “Nightmare Alley” depicting four figures in period clothing arranged in a dramatic noir-style composition, with carnival imagery and dark, moody tones.Nightmare Alley

dir. Guillermo del Toro (2021)

This neo-noir psychological version of Nightmare Alley (based on the novel by William Lindsay Gresham) stars Bradley Cooper as Stan, a con-man who joins up with a traveling circus in the 1940s. The movie follows Stan as he learns the tricks that make up the circus acts, and exposes dark secrets from those he comes into contact with, including his own mysterious past. Also starring Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, and Rooney Mara. Rated R.

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Audiobook cover for “Geek Love” by Katherine Dunn, featuring a small circus curtain opening to a starry scene above illustrated hands, with earbuds placed beside the device.Geek Love

by Katherine Dunn

The Binewskis are a carny family breeding their own exhibit of human oddities, with the help of drugs and radioactive materials. They create Arturo the flippered boy, Siamese twins Iphy and Elly, Olympia the hunchbacked albino dwarf, and normal-seeming Chick, who has telekinetic powers. The family takes its carnival on the road, where they inspire fanatical devotion. This National Book Award Finalist explores themes of what makes a family, beauty versus ugliness, and how we decide what is normal and what is freakish.

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Illustrated book cover for “The Ordinary Acrobat” by Duncan Wall, showing a stylized acrobat and clown figures in motion, with bold, hand-painted typography.American Experience: The Circus: Big Tent, Big Dreams

dir. Sharon Grimberg (2018)

Combining dramatic re-enactments with commentary by historians, authors, and others, this sweeping historical documentary charts the rise of the American circus from the 19th century onward. Featuring the larger-than-life showmen P.T. Barnum and James Bailey, and the dazzling spectacle of the Ringling Brothers empire, this two-part PBS series captures the grit, ambition, and innovation that fueled a uniquely American form of entertainment. All Denver residents can stream this free on Kanopy with your Denver Public Library card.

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Resources provided by Denver Public Library

 

 

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