by
Dean Jensen
- Publisher: Crown (June 11, 2013)
- ISBN-10: 030798656X
- ISBN-13: 978-0307986566
A true life Water for Elephants, Queen of the Air brings the circus
world to life through the gorgeously written, true story of renowned
trapeze artist and circus performer Leitzel, Queen of the Air, the most
famous woman in the world at the turn of the 20th century, and her
star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying
Codona Brothers.
Like today's Beyonce, Madonna, and Cher, she was known to her vast public by just one name, Leitzel. There may have been some regions on earth where her name was not a household expression, but if so, they were likely on polar ice caps or in the darkest, deepest jungles.
Like today's Beyonce, Madonna, and Cher, she was known to her vast public by just one name, Leitzel. There may have been some regions on earth where her name was not a household expression, but if so, they were likely on polar ice caps or in the darkest, deepest jungles.
Leitzel was born into Dickensian circumstances, and became a princess and then a queen. She was not much bigger than a good size fairy, just four-foot-ten and less than 100 pounds. In the first part of the 20th century, she presided over a sawdust fiefdom of never-ending magic. She was the biggest star ever of the biggest circus ever, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth.
In her life, Leitzel had many suitors (and three husbands), but only one man ever fully captured her heart. He was the handsome Alfredo Codona, the greatest trapeze flyer that had ever lived, the only one in his time who, night after night, executed the deadliest of all big-top feats, The Triple--three somersaults in midair while traveling at 60 m.p.h. The Triple, the salto mortale, as the Italians called it, took the lives of more daredevils than any other circus stunt.
About the author . . .
Reader Review . . .
At the turn of the 20th century, Lillian Leitzel was a circus superstar, her name known by millions. As a trapeze artist, she had no equal. Born in Germany in 1892, she learned her craft by watching her mother and her aunts, an act known as the Leamy Ladies. She began appearing in the United States with Barnum & Bailey in 1908, and began developing her signature act in which she would throw her body over her shoulder again and again while the rapt audience kept count. While she was courted by many men, and married to three of them, the love of her life seemed to be Alfredo Codona. Theirs was a storybook, albeit bittersweet, romance.
Queen of the Air is a fascinating look at the life of an early superstar. Dean Jensen has done a remarkable job of bringing her story to life in this compelling read. Anyone who has ever watched in fascination as the circus stars and acrobats perform will not be able to put down this book until the very end.
5 STARS
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Edelweiss book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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2013 A-Z Reading Challenge
Do you love to read? You know I do! Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book is hosting a reading challenge for 2013.This challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 until December 31st, 2013.
You
can join anytime. It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to
read one book starting with every letter of the alphabet.
So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.
A - Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.
OR
B - Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – The Azalea Assault B- Blue Monday C – Crops and Robbers D – A Deadly Grind etc.
Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!
So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.
A - Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.
OR
B - Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – The Azalea Assault B- Blue Monday C – Crops and Robbers D – A Deadly Grind etc.
Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!
Ready to join??
Sign up at Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book and grab the button.
Non-bloggers you can join too! Just keep track any way you wish and enter a link below if available or sign up in the comment section. You can even set up a special shelf on Goodreads to help you keep track!
Need some help finding titles to match the alphabet – Jandy’s Reading Room has a wonderful list to get you started.
Here is my list:
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P PERIL: FROM JACKBOOTS TO JACK BENNY - PEARL GOODMAN
Q QUEEN OF THE AIR: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY AT THE CIRCUS - DEAN JENSEN
R
S
T THE POSTMISTRESS-SARAH BLAKE
U UNCONQUERED: THE SAGA OF COUSINS JERRY LEE LEWIS, JIMMY SWAGGART, AND MICKY GILLEY - J.D. DAVIS
V VANISHED-IRENE HANNON
W
X
Y
Z
I will be updating my list and will keep it posted on here. Check back to see what I've read, and comment and let me know when you join the challenge. Here's to a year of good reading!
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