The Circus Train - Softcover

Parikh, Amita

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0593539982 ISBN 13: 9780593539989

Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group, 2022

Inhaltsangabe

International Bestseller and #1 LibraryReads Pick

Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus in this World War II debut about a magnificent travelling circus, a star-crossed romance, and one girl’s coming-of-age during the darkest of times.

“A powerful reminder that to live is not just to survive, but to be seen and known for ourselves.” —Pam Jenoff, author of The Orphan’s Tale

When all is lost, how do you find the courage to keep moving forward?

1938. Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the circus, even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Theo. Brilliant and curious, Lena—who uses a wheelchair after a childhood bout with polio—yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, her mind stronger than the limitations placed on her by society. Then her unconventional life takes an exciting turn when she rescues Alexandre, an orphan with his own secrets and a mysterious past.

As World War II escalates around them, their friendship blossoms into something deeper while Alexandre trains as the illusionist’s apprentice. But when Theo and Alexandre are arrested and made to perform in a town for Jews set up by the Nazis, Lena is separated from everything she knows. Forced to make her own way, Lena must confront her doubts and dare to believe in the impossible—herself.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Amita Parikh was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and received an Honours BSc from the University of Toronto. When she's not writing, she works in the tech industry. The Circus Train is her first novel.

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International Bestseller

Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus in this World War II debut about a magnificent travelling circus, a star-crossed romance, and one girl’s coming-of-age during the darkest of times.

“A powerful reminder that to live is not just to survive, but to be seen and known for ourselves.” ―Pam Jenoff, author of The Orphan’s Tale

When all is lost, how do you find the courage to keep moving forward?

1938. Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the circus, even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Theo. Brilliant and curious, Lena yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, despite the limitations of her wheelchair. Then her unconventional life takes an exciting turn when she rescues Alexandre, an orphan with his own secrets and a mysterious past.

As World War II escalates around them over the years, their friendship blossoms into something deeper while Alexandre trains as the illusionist’s apprentice. But when Theo and Alexandre are arrested and contracted to perform in a model town for Jews set up by the Nazis, Lena is separated from everything she knows. Forced to make her own way, Lena must confront her doubts and dare to believe in the impossible―herself.

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Chapter One
September 1938—London, England

"How many do you think there are?"

"D'you think any of them are handsome?"

"Trust you, Suze, to ask that!"

Lena Papadopoulos stared at the two girls standing a few feet in front of her. They were gathered at the end of the hallway that led to the circus director's study, trying their best to gauge what was happening behind the closed doors.

Laura, an acrobat from Brighton, pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail and crouched down on the plush blue carpet. She was what the director, Horace, called a circus chameleon, possessing the rare ability to slip into any number of acts-aerial silks, trapeze, contortion-on a moment's notice.

"Maybe I can spot something from this angle." She splayed herself flat on her stomach and rested her chin in the tiny gap where the carpet met the cool marbled tile that made up the study's foyer. Lena thought she looked like an elegant, upside-down starfish.

"Oh, do get up! This is pointless," Suze moaned, a spray of springy red curls bouncing madly around her face. Suze had joined the circus in Dublin a year ago and was training to be a water ballerina. She jutted her hip out and glanced at Laura brushing lint from her leotard. "I dare you to go up there."

"No thanks."

"Go on," Suze cajoled.

"No." Laura stretched her slender arms overhead and arched her rib cage forward.

Suze pouted and began kicking at the hallway baseboards, her bright green eyes roving around impishly before settling on Lena.

"Why hello, Lena. Didn't notice you there."

Lena blushed. She hadn't realized Suze even knew her name. "Hi," she squeaked, tentatively inching herself forward. A wide smile spread across Suze's face.

"How'd you like to play a game?" She pointed toward Horace's study. "If you go up there and see if there are any handsome boys, I'll give you a shilling."

"Suze," Laura warned.

"I'd like to play," Lena answered, grateful for the chance to be included.

A satisfied smile settled on Suze's face and she nodded toward the study. "Whenever you're ready."

Lena took a deep breath and began rolling herself forward. As she crossed over from the carpet onto the smooth marble, she felt her stomach turn somersaults and told herself firmly not to mess up. She had a chance to be a part of Suze's friend group. Everyone loved Suze. She was like a firefly, her magnetic temperament attracting the attention of boys and girls alike. As she drew closer to the double oak doors, Lena imagined what it would be like to sit next to Suze at meals and have those same children clamoring to speak with her.

Horace's study was housed in its own carriage, styled in a way that one would expect from the wealthy entertainment impresario. A giant spotlight shone from each side of the doors, ensuring that whenever Horace entered or exited, he was always the center of attention. A tiny row of hand-painted blue-and-gold tiles ran around the perimeter of the foyer. In the center, a stunning Ming vase, crafted from the finest porcelain, sat on a stone pedestal. The marble floor had been imported from a quarry in Italy, and the space just outside the doors was inlaid with a custom mosaic emblem of Horace's initials.

Lena came to a halt outside the entrance, positioning herself so that she could peer directly into the keyhole that was level with her line of sight.

"Well?" Suze whispered loudly.

Lena squinted, pushing one of the blue velvet tassels that hung from the brass door knockers out of the way. She could make out two young girls, a boy who looked to be a bit older than her, a set of older boys who were probably teenagers, a few adults, some children, and a mother jiggling her baby in her arms.

"I think I see him. Tall, black hair? Holding juggling balls?"

"That's him!" Suze nodded vigorously. "What's he saying?"

Lena placed her ear against the keyhole and tried to listen. While she waited, she thought about the inaugural dinner to be held that evening, the marquee event that kicked off the World of Wonders tour. Every year, Horace threw a lavish feast in the grand dining hall before the tour commenced. To be accepted into the World of Wonders was a prestigious thing, and Horace saw to it that no expense was spared. Last year's dinner had an Alice in Wonderland theme and featured dishes like mock turtle soup, glorious icebox cakes in every shape and size, and glasses of champagne with little tags that read Drink Me. After the meal, everyone had spilled outside, engaging in games of croquet with wooden mallets designed to look like flamingos and running through a maze that had been decorated with bushes of white roses splattered with brilliant splashes of red. This year's theme was the classic Russian fairy tale The Firebird, and Lena could hardly wait, remembering the fat stacks of fluffy blini she'd seen Mario preparing earlier in the kitchen.

"Suppose I do like one of them. What of it?"

Lena refocused on the task at hand, straining to catch the new recruits' words. But they had moved around in the study and she wasn't having any luck hearing, so she looked through the keyhole again and tried to lip-read.

"Remember that Jamie fellow? A fine mess you got yourself into!" Laura scolded. "All I'm saying is you don't want a repeat-"

Suddenly Lena drew back sharply. "Quick! They're coming!"

Suze and Laura took off like lightning, sprinting away from Lena toward a set of heavy blue velvet drapes farther down the hall. It was only after they'd reached the safety of the hanging fabric that Laura looked back, realizing what they'd done. Her face fell as she watched Lena furiously trying to maneuver her chair away from the door.
 
"Lena! The vase!" Laura jerked her head toward the pedestal.

Lena twisted her head, her eyes falling on the vase. It wouldn't hide her completely, but she didn't have any other options.

"Laura!" Suze whispered loudly from behind the lush folds. "Leave her!"

From her position in the foyer, exposed beyond belief, Lena caught Laura's eye, noting the pity on her face.

I'm sorry, Laura mouthed, before diving behind the drapes with a speed and grace that Lena would never have.

Lena shook her head and tried to move, intent on reaching the vase. But her right wheel appeared to be stuck.

"Come on," she muttered, bending over to see what was wrong. "Why won't you move?" Then she noticed that there was a small groove between the tiles where her wheel had gotten stuck.

"Lena!" Laura's voice echoed down the hallway and Lena looked up to see the golden knob of Horace's door twisting. Out of ideas and time, she sat up and pushed extra hard, moving herself backward at a fast clip. Good! she said to herself. If I can just get away from the doors, she thought. That's it. Almost there. She stole a quick glance forward. Horace had opened the door but was exiting with his back toward her. She just needed a few more seconds.

"As I said, dinner will begin-"

Crash.

Horace came to an abrupt halt, and the frightened shouts of the new circus members filled the foyer. From her place a few feet away, Lena squeezed her eyes shut. But when she finally dared to look, her heart sank. Tiny bits of blue-and-white porcelain lay scattered all over the tiles.

"Lena!" Horace boomed. "What have you done?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Lena saw the tips of Suze's red hair disappear behind the curtains. "It was an accident," she said, forcing herself to look at Horace.

He was down on his knees, picking at the hundreds of pieces in front of him. "Have you any idea how expensive this was?"

"I'm sorry," Lena whispered, wishing she could sink into the floor. She...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2022
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0593539982
• ISBN 13: 9780593539989
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Auflage: 1
• Anzahl der Seiten: 416
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: preigu; mail@preigu.de; ; Lengericher Landstr. 19; Osnabrück; 49078; Deutschland