Clownland

Clownland is a journey through an unusual country to discover what its extraordinary inhabitants have learnt about life, loss, and happiness.

            Injured, and living on the edge of country town, Lanigan embarks on an unconventional, at moments disastrous, but ultimately inspiring guided tour of this strange land- Clownland.

            This is not a text book.  This is not an objective, academic look at an artform. This is not a book that will teach you how to become a clown - though it might help. This is a guided tour, a travelogue, through a part of the world - Clownland - where we meet those employed in studying the stupid, the ridiculous, the clumsy and deluded, both beautiful and ugly, to hold up a mirror up so that we can laugh at ourselves.

            You don't need to love clowns to love this book.

Clownland is a sequel to Lanigan's 'A True History of the Hula Hoop' (Picador 2009) Reviews:

“…an ingenious, idiosyncratic and enchanting book. Thanks to keenly observed particulars and lovely prose, Lanigan’s debut is eccentric, sensitive and touched with magic. ... Surprisingly astute and captivating... A True History of the Hula Hoop is an artistically well-dressed novel that shouldn’t be missed.” Steve Davenport The Independent Weekly

‘…The result is an expansive and exuberant novel mixing fiction, history and elements of Lanigan’s life in the streets and theatres of Europe and Britain.’ Lenny Ann Low – The Sydney Morning Herald Sept 2009

“She knows her workplace and it’s colourful history well, yet imparts her knowledge with a light deft touch… An intriguing vivid novel.” Lucy Sussex, M magazine- the Age.