GREAT HORSEWOMEN OF THE 19TH CENTURY IN THE CIRCUS
NELSON, HILDA / WILLIAMS, RICHARD F
Circus was quite a serious thing in nineteenth and early twentieth century Europe. Edmond and Jules de Goncourt noted in their Journal "We go to only one theater--the Circus. There we see clowns, tumblers....there is no false exhibition of talent..." Balzac believed that a circus equestrienne was worth more respect than an actress, a prima ballerina or an opera prima donna. And indeed, equestrians were the kings of the circus--and equestrienne...