A collection of vignettes and brief impressionistic scenes that concentrate on moments, characters, settings and ideas. Many of these vignettes are independent, but some are intruded upon by a cast of characters who wander throughout the book.

"Step right up! Meet the astounding . . . the amazing . . . P. T. Barnum!
"The award-winning author of "The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary," "Our Eleanor," and "Ben Franklin's Almanac "brings us the larger-than-life biography of showman P. T. Barnum. Known far and wide for his jumbo elephants, midgets, and three-ring circuses, here's a complete and captivating look at the man behind the Greatest Show on Earth. Readers can visit Barnum's American Museum; meet Tom Thumb, the miniature man (only 39 inches tall) and his tinier bride (32 inches); experience the thrill Barnum must have felt when, at age 60, he joined the circus; and discover Barnum's legacy to the 19th century and beyond. Drawing on old circus posters, photographs, etchings, ticket stubs--and with incredible decorative art by Ray Fenwick--this book presents history as it's never been experienced before--a show-stopping event!