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The Circus Fire
The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy | Stewart O'Nan
5 posts | 8 read | 22 to read
The acclaimed author of A Prayer for the Dying brings all his narrative gifts to bear on this gripping account of tragedy and heroism-the great Hartford circus fire of 1944. Halfway through a midsummer afternoon performance, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus's big top caught fire. The tent had been waterproofed with a mixture of paraffin and gasoline; in seconds it was burning out of control, and more than 8,000 people were trapped inside. Drawing on interviews with hundreds of survivors, O'Nan skillfully re-creates the horrific events and illuminates the psychological oddities of human behavior under stress: the mad scramble for the exits; the hero who tossed dozens of children to safety before being trampled to death. Brilliantly constructed and exceptionally moving, The Circus Fire is history at its most compelling. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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blurb
Mdargusch
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I‘m starting this nonfiction account of a circus fire today. When the Ringling Brothers circus came to town, no one could guess the tragedy that would unfold when 8,000 people would be trapped in a burning circus tent.
#timebombtown #soaringscores

Cinfhen This sounds really interesting. I see I‘ve previously stacked! I‘ll be watching for your review☺️ 5y
CrowCAH Oh wow that‘s quite the experience! 🎪 5y
Reviewsbylola So good. Enjoy! 5y
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Mdargusch I think you probably stacked it when @Reviewsbylola reviewed it @Cinfhen 😊 5y
Mdargusch I‘m such a NF fan. So far it‘s very good @Reviewsbylola @CrowCAH 👍🏼 5y
Suet624 How frightening. And sad. 5y
Cinfhen You‘re probably right!! Steph has been responsible for LOTS of my book add ons 💗 5y
56 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Amiable
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#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush
Day 5

7 covers you love, one a day for 7 days. No explanations. Tag a different Litten each day.

@Ash.on.the.line would you like to play?

65 likes1 stack add
review
Reviewsbylola
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Pickpick

If you love narrative non fiction, check this book out!

O‘Nan spent eleven years researching the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944. As the big top quickly became engulfed in flames, many people perished trying to escape. Most of the victims were women and children. One victim looked surprisingly peaceful, but for a burn on the side of her face. She was killed after being trampled. She became known as Little Miss 1565 after her body was unclaimed. ⤵️

Reviewsbylola Was she 8 year old Eleanor Baker? Was another body mistakenly identified, the family of LM 1565 accidentally burying someone else‘s child? This is only one of the numerous tragic stories of that day. #dontgobreakingmyheart #anglophileapril 6y
Nute Sounds very intriguing. I want to know about this! 6y
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Reviewsbylola Thank you for sharing!! @kspenmoll I hope the bodies are all eventually identified but at the very least, that Grace Fifield‘s family gets closure. 6y
Cinfhen #Stacked ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️ 6y
Mdargusch Stacking! 👍🏼 6y
emilyhaldi 😱😪 6y
Megabooks 😢😢 6y
85 likes8 stack adds8 comments
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Reviewsbylola
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#bathandbook for Friday night! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

I haven‘t started this one but I sounds good and what a cover!

Amiable Oh, this one is very good! I was especially interested since it happened in Hartford, about 40 minutes from where I grew up. 6y
Megabooks You make me wish I had a better bathtub! I fully took advantage of the nearby Lush and large tub I had in my hotel in Vegas. I just sat and listened to this! Bliss! 6y
Reviewsbylola Those both look really good!! Nothing better than a Lush bath! @megabooks 6y
98 likes8 stack adds4 comments
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bookishkai
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After bouncing between a handful of books last nights, this is going to be my Friday read. I read it years ago (18 years, maybe?) and I've often thought about revisiting it.

41 likes1 stack add