Lady Eleanor Smith

"This is the story of Joe--born to the circus and true to its standards to the end--a vivid, unusual and dynamic character. But it is more than the story of one man, it is the circus itself, bustling, powerful, rowdy in action and excitement. If you have ever thrilled to the romance and color of circus life-the animals, the acrobats, the trainers, the clowns, all that world of picturesque rascaldom that follows the trail of the red wagon--you will find cause to thrill in this story of the open road with its great zest for life and its fresh, vigorous language and outlook."--Amazon.com.

In fact and name, a Regency romance, and a most accomplished piece of story telling, with color, passion and high drama. From the gay, gaudy, glamorous world of Whig fashionables, a descendant unearths the story of Clarissa -- Lady Rohan -- who epitomized all the charm of a gracious era and became a legend of the times. Beautiful, affectionate and generous, her innocence made her unequal foil to Hesther, her closest friend and nemesis, who bore her some love but greater hate. At 17, Clarissa is married to the dour Lord Rohan, the 'man in gray', who finds her youth and beauty tedious and whose indifference is pierced only when Hesther becomes the children's governess and he falls in love with her. Almost simultaneously, Clarissa finds -- and loses -- her first real love; and Hesther stoops to murder. Dramatic entertainment and good!--KIRKUS**