The Circus Train
The magical international bestseller about love, loss and survival in wartime Europe
-
- £4.99
-
- £4.99
Publisher Description
THE MAGICAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
'An uplifting read and a welcome escape from our turbulent times' GUARDIAN
'A magical, vibrant parade of a novel about extraordinary people finding light in history's darkest decades. Spellbinding' ERIN KELLY
'Fans of Lucina Riley will love this heartwarming novel. A story full of hope and bravery' Nina Pottell, PRIMA
'Enchanting' MAIL ON SUNDAY
'Rich' SUNDAY TIMES
'Gorgeous' WOMAN'S WEEKLY
'Compelling' DAILY MAIL
_________
Europe, 1938. Even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the World of Wonders - a travelling circus that traverses the continent in a luxury steam engine. Brilliant and curious, Lena yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, despite the limitations she feels in her wheelchair. But when a young French orphan, Alexandre, comes aboard the circus train, Lena's life is infused with magic and wonder for the first time.
But outside the bright lights of the circus, darkness is descending on Europe. War is about to shatter Lena's world, and take away everything she holds dear. And to recover what she has lost, Lena will have to believe in the impossible.
A must-read for fans of Water for Elephants, The Circus Train will take readers on a heart-wrenching two-decade journey across a continent in which great beauty and unimaginable horror live side by side.
_________
'BEAUTIFUL'
Reader Review (5 stars)
'POWERFUL'
Pam Jenoff
'DELIGHTFUL'
Reader Review (5 stars)
'TRIUMPHANT'
Lorelei Savaryn
'EXQUISITE'
Reader Review (5 stars)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Parikh debuts with a fascinating story of a traveling circus in Europe during WWII. After illusionist Theo Papadopoulos's wife dies in childbirth in Greece, he raises their daughter. Lena, who uses a wheelchair after a case of polio, feels isolated as a preteen until she finds companionship with Alexandre Robichaud, an orphaned Jewish boy hiding in the circus's train as it crosses Amsterdam in 1938. By 1942, Lena and Alexandre's friendship has blossomed into romance. Then, circus owner Horace learns of Theo's plans to leave the circus to seek asylum for himself and Lena in the U.S. Enraged, Horace allows the S.S. into the train to capture Theo for hiding alleged fugitive Alexandre, leading to Theo and Alexandre's internment at the Theresienstadt concentration camp in Czechoslovakia, where they perform as illusionists. Without her father and the friendship of Alexandre, Lena leaves the circus and seeks her former governess Clara in hopes Clara will take her in. Parikh's extensive historical research adds authenticity to the lives of the circus performers as well as Lena's disability, and the characters' arcs highlight the ever-present dangers in WWII Europe and make palpable the strength of friendship. Fans of historical fiction will be drawn to this page-turner. Agent: Therese Coen, Hardman & Swainson.
