Bruno Wildermann of the Wrinfield Circus is the world's greatest trapeze artist, a clairvoyant with near-supernatural powers and an implacable enemy of the East German regime that arrested his family and murdered his wife. The CIA needs such a man for an impossible raid on the impregnable Lubylan Fortress where his family is held, to remove a dangerous weapons formula from a heavily guarded laboratory. Under cover of a traveling circus tour, Bruno prepares to return to his homeland. But before the journey even begins a murderer strikes twice. Somewhere in the circus there is a communist agent with orders to stop Bruno at any cost.
Backgroundedit
In October 1973 it was announced Alistair Maclean was researching the novel, which would form the basis of a film called Circus to be made the following year by Irving Allen for 20th Century Fox in collaboration with the Ringling Circus. Allen had previously made The Big Circus (1959) but said Circus would be different, being shot in 70mm and 3D with a budget of $6 million. Maclean was researching the novel by travelling with the circus.[1] The film was never made.
Literary significance and criticismedit
The story, written in third person narrative, includes espionage, murder, romance and humor. Many MacLean fans do not consider this to be one of his finer works. It is typical of his later period works, in that while it is quite well plotted (if stretching the bounds of believability), it is simplistically characterized, with dryly sardonic and superbly competent protagonists (particularly Bruno Wildermann, the trapeze artist and secret agent), a ravishingly beautiful and virtually helpless female protagonist, and almost cartoonish Communist antagonists.
Receptionedit
The Los Angeles Times called it a "first rate piece of suspense".[2]
circus, novel, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, circus, novel, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jsto. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Circus novel news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Circus is a novel written by the Scottish author Alistair MacLean It was first released in the United Kingdom by Collins in 1975 and later in the same year by Doubleday in the United States CircusFirst edition cover UK AuthorAlistair MacLeanCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishGenreSpy Novel Thriller novelPublisherCollins UK Doubleday US Publication date1975Media typePrint Hardcover Preceded byBreakheart Pass Followed byThe Golden Gate Contents 1 Plot introduction 2 Background 3 Literary significance and criticism 4 Reception 5 References 6 In popular culture 7 External linksPlot introduction editBruno Wildermann of the Wrinfield Circus is the world s greatest trapeze artist a clairvoyant with near supernatural powers and an implacable enemy of the East German regime that arrested his family and murdered his wife The CIA needs such a man for an impossible raid on the impregnable Lubylan Fortress where his family is held to remove a dangerous weapons formula from a heavily guarded laboratory Under cover of a traveling circus tour Bruno prepares to return to his homeland But before the journey even begins a murderer strikes twice Somewhere in the circus there is a communist agent with orders to stop Bruno at any cost Background editIn October 1973 it was announced Alistair Maclean was researching the novel which would form the basis of a film called Circus to be made the following year by Irving Allen for 20th Century Fox in collaboration with the Ringling Circus Allen had previously made The Big Circus 1959 but said Circus would be different being shot in 70mm and 3D with a budget of 6 million Maclean was researching the novel by travelling with the circus 1 The film was never made Literary significance and criticism editThe story written in third person narrative includes espionage murder romance and humor Many MacLean fans do not consider this to be one of his finer works It is typical of his later period works in that while it is quite well plotted if stretching the bounds of believability it is simplistically characterized with dryly sardonic and superbly competent protagonists particularly Bruno Wildermann the trapeze artist and secret agent a ravishingly beautiful and virtually helpless female protagonist and almost cartoonish Communist antagonists Reception editThe Los Angeles Times called it a first rate piece of suspense 2 The book was a best seller 3 References edit News of the Screen Ringling Circus To Be Focus of Film Mastroianni Gets A Surprise Role By A H WEILER New York Times 14 Oct 1973 67 Lovely Late Night Shudders Kirsch Robert Los Angeles Times 17 Oct 1975 h8 Best Seller List New York Times 31 Aug 1975 185 In popular culture editIn the film Operation Thunderbolt Col Yonatan Netanyahu Yehoram Gaon reads the novel en route to the 1976 Israeli raid on Entebbe Airport in Uganda In the 1978 film The Comeback character Nick Cooper is reading the novel in bed External links editBook review at AlistairMacLean com nbsp This article about a spy novel of the 1970s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it See guidelines for writing about novels Further suggestions might be found on the article s talk page vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Circus novel amp oldid 1173370879, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
