 Front cover of first edition | |
| Author | Charles G. Finney |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Boris Artzybasheff |
| Language | English |
| Genre | |
| Published | 1935 Viking Press |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 154 pp. |
The Circus of Dr. Lao (1935) is a novel written by the American newspaperman and writer Charles G. Finney. It won one of the inaugural National Book Awards: The Most Original Book of 1935.[1][2] Although the first edition was illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff, many later editions omit the illustrations.
The paperback edition of 1974 received a positive review in The New York Times, which called the book a "classic American joke", comparing it to the likes of Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce and H. L. Mencken.[3]
The Circus of Dr. Lao was re-issued in 2016 as part of the Fantasy Masterworks series. The 2016 edition was reviewed in Starburst, which called it "an experience you shouldn’t miss and a trip into the dark heart of a Big Top you will never forget". The review also pointed out the influence of Dr. Lao on Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes.[4]
A contemporary reviewer in Kirkus Reviews was positive, writing, "It's crazy – but I liked it. It's astoundingly learned – but not annoyingly so".[5]
- ^ "[no title cited]". Books and Authors. The New York Times. 12 April 1936. p. BR1 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers / The New York Times (1851-2007).
- ^ "Lewis is scornful of radio culture: ...". The New York Times. 12 May 1936. p. 25 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2007).
- ^ Mayo, D. Keith (12 May 1974). "The Circus of Dr. Lao". The New York Times (book review).
- ^ White, Ian (18 January 2016). "The Circus of Dr. Lao". Reviews. Starburst.
- ^ "Charles G. Finney / The Circus of Dr. Lao". Book reviews. Kirkus Reviews. 15 June 1936.