Circus of Wonders

A glittering follow-up to The Doll Factory . . . a mark of Macneal's subtlety and originality * Guardian * Elizabeth Macneal's marvellous debut, The Doll Factory, was a bestselling success. This second book, beautifully written and filled with character and life, cements her reputation as a new talent * The Times * Elizabeth Macneal has done it again . . . Entrancing, tender, captivating. A marvel. I couldn't put it down. -- Sara Collins, author of Costa First Novel Award winner <i>The Confessions of Frannie Langton</i> Wonderful . . . Glitters and gleams with the grimy stories of a travelling circus . . . Utterly beguiling * Daily Mail * An absolute triumph. Exquisitely written, intensely satisfying -- Stacey Halls, author of <i>The Familiars</i> Spectacular . . . A brilliantly involving story, vivid with the sights and sounds of Victorian England. A fantastic read * Daily Express * Dark but tender, evocative and compelling. I loved it -- Laura Shepherd-Robinson, author of <i>Blood & Sugar</i> An equally satisfying exploration of some of the odder corners of Victorian life . . . a novel that again highlights Macneal's rich imagination and vivid prose * Sunday Times Ireland, Historical Fiction Book of the Month * A fantastical, absolutely immersive gem of a read * Red * Macneal's complex characters allow her to question how society treats difference, the price of power and vanity, and the pursuit of self-determination. At turns dark, joyous, frightening and heartbreaking, Circus Of Wonders makes for an absorbing read * Independent * A tremendous read. Richly imagined, vividly rendered, each scene is like an old painting in which light gleams off the detail . . . The story is full-bodied and addictive from the outset, told with pace and verve but never compromising style . . . Circus of Wonders displays in abundance everything readers loved about The Doll Factory . . . an ambitious, enlightening novel -- Emma Stonex, author of <i>The Lamplighters</i> Deliciously vivid . . . every bit as atmospheric as you'd expect . . . A hopeful story of a girl taking charge of her destiny * Woman & Home * Set in the same Victorian London as her stunning debut, The Doll Factory, Macneal's second novel is both thrilling and humane, bringing to life the brutal world of the freak show * Mail on Sunday * You can't help but be drawn into the exciting and sometimes macabre world of the circus, with its colourful cast of characters * Good Housekeeping * Another seductive slice of Victorian noir * Sunday Times Scotland * Circus of Wonders is confident and beautifully written -- Sarah Vaughan, author of <i>Anatomy of a Scandal</i> A glittering, begrimed tale of love and self-determination flush with richly detailed prose. Sumptuous, macabre, enthralling; a perfect slice of Victoriana. -- Jane Healey, author of <i>The Animals at Lockwood Manor</i> Elizabeth Macneal's novel is spectacular - a book of wonders! -- Alix Nathan, author of <i>The Warlow Experiment</i> A beautifully told and immersive look at a complex dance between exploitation and empowerment, and the question of what it really means to have control over your own life. I adored its characters, I was utterly gripped throughout, and I loved having my eyes opened to the troubling yet fascinating world of Victorian circuses -- Naomi Ishiguro, author of <i>Escape Routes</i> Circus of Wonders is a soaring, tumbling, whip-cracking book. Elizabeth Macneal has brought an extraordinary group of characters together in these pages; the result is a glittering world, a story as moving as it is deeply entertaining -- Daniel Mason, author of <i>The Piano Tuner</i> Expansive and tender . . . it really pulls you into this fascinating world. -- Beth Underdown, author of<i> The Witchfinder's Sister</i> I loved The Doll Factory and I loved Circus Of Wonders just as much . . .An intrigu

Elizabeth Macneal was born in Scotland and now lives in East London. She is a writer and potter and works from a small studio at the bottom of her garden. The Doll Factory, Elizabeth's debut novel, was a Sunday Times bestseller, has been translated into twenty-nine languages and has been optioned for a major television series. Circus of Wonders is her second novel.