Mr Galliano's Circus Story Collection (Bumper Short Story Collections)

Product Information

One further Galliano story - A Circus Adventure was published in the Sunny Stories magazine and reprinted in Enid Blyton's Omnibus (published in 1952). [1]

Some people here have said it’s all a bit sudden – the family joining the circus. I disagree slightly, as we see Mr Brown working with the circus for a whole week and then being asked to stay with them, without his family. He goes home, presumably to talk to his wife about it. It’s quite easy to imagine her saying “if only Jimmy and I could go with you. There’s nothing keeping us here.” So when that’s offered, they jump at it. Golly — doesn't it look exciting?' said George. 'I wish I belonged to a circus that went wandering all over the place all the year. That's just the sort of life I'd like.' Mr Galliano's famous circus has come to town! Join young Jimmy Brown and his family as they enter a thrilling world of incredible animals, colourful clowns and daring acrobats. Blyton ensures we get a strong all round image of the circus folk – and how they compare to the Brown family. Although she doesn’t make the circus folk look “bad”, she gently suggests it’s important to be like Jimmy – clean, able to read and write etc.Jimmy can't understand her; the circus dogs are as happy as can be, running about all the time, playing and getting exercise, while the grumpy woman's dog is fat, lazy and spoilt. In another scene, when a chimpanzee escapes, the public reaction is horror and fright; the police trap poor Sammy in a shed and are prepared to go in and shoot him, not realizing how harmless and friendly the chimpanzee is. Oona just happens to have seen a dog cured of jaundice before, and knows which circus the woman is currently with, and Mr Galliano knows immediately where that circus is.

Other performers join the throng, including acts involving tigers, a seal and zebras. Animal acts are not very popular these days but it has to be said that Enid Blyton emphasises the fact that, while certain animals are cut out to work alongside humans and respond to an audience, others are not. Mr. Galliano understands that animals learn best through being treated kindly and rewarded — not through being intimidated and punished. He doesn't hesitate to fire trapeze artists Jan and Yol on discovering that they have been treating their dog cruelly. It’s said that Lal loves punch, yet she made no effort to help Jimmy look after the dog, or find a cure? According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.

Old Thatch Series

More things happen and one particularly important occasion is when Jimmy actually enters the circus-ring. What an honour. He's very successful but, because he's using his powers with animals to the hilt, there's an unexpected fly in the ointment. You see, he's working with Sammy the chimp and Mr. Wally, who is recovering from the accident with his car, is a little jealous. Jimmy's mother gives some sage advice and it's taken up at different times by the boy and also by Lotta — "The best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping stones. Laugh at them, tread on them and let them lead you to something better." There are beautiful times and memories to be retained by Jimmy in his new surroundings. Fires are lit in the evening whilst the horses graze nearby. Jumbo rests and feasts on his supper. It's nice to relax after a day of jolting and jerking along the road on the way to the next venue. Jimmy's first night is typical of many — E. H. Davie, the illustrator, has supplied a nice little picture of him and Lotta sitting around a fire near the caravans. Their day is not finished though because whilst all other children in the village are sleeping peacefully in their beds, the two circus kids get up to take the dogs for a walk. "Isn't it lovely, Lotta!" said Jimmy, sniffing at the white may as they passed it. "And look at the moon!" The moon was coming slowly up over the hill in front of them. The countryside was bathed in light, pale and cold and silvery. They did not meet anyone, for the countryside was quite deserted. Only a lonely farmhouse shone in the moonlight not far off.They return to the camp singing loudly. Lotta knows old circus ditties and Jimmy sings songs he'd learnt at school. The dogs are returned to their cage and the children speed off to their caravans. Jimmy cuddles down on the little mattress placed by his parents' bed. The windows are opened to let in the sweet air of the May night and the boy listens to the call of an owl in the wood. A big white star shines through the window. "I'm one of the circus folk now" he thinks sleepily. "I'm one of the circus-f-f-f ... " He sleeps. A classic story collection filled with adventure, fantasy and magic by the world's best-loved storyteller Enid Blyton. The caravan passed on, taking the scowling clown with it, and the grinning Nobby. The children watched the others going by, too; it was quite a big circus. There was a cage of monkeys, a chimpanzee sitting in a corner of a dark cage, asleep, a string of beautiful horses, sleek and shining, a great wagon carrying benches and forms and tents, caravans for the circus folk to live in, and a host of interesting people to see, sitting on the steps of their vans or walking together outside to stretch their legs.