The Circus Train: The magical international bestseller about love, loss and survival in wartime Europe

Description

THE MAGICAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Two lives collide in a world of secrets. But one secret greater than them all. Is about to tear them apart . . . At the World of Wonders, Europe's most magnificent travelling circus, every moment is full of magic, and nothing is as it seems-especially for the people who put on the show. 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 her father's overprotection and the limitations of her wheelchair. Her unconventional life takes an exciting turn when she rescues Alexandre, an orphan with his own secrets and a mysterious past. Over several years, as their friendship flourishes and Alexandre trains as the illusionist's apprentice, World War II escalates around them. When Theo and Alexandre are contracted to work and perform in a model town for Jews set up by the Nazis, Lena becomes separated from everything she knows. Forced to make her own way, Lena must confront her doubts and dare to believe in the impossible-herself. A must-read for fans of The Night Circus and Water for Elephants, The Circus Train will take readers on a heart-wrenching and spectacular two-decade journey across Europe. When all is lost, how do you find the courage move forward?

Amita Parikh received an honours BSc from the University of Toronto before moving to London, England, where she completed the Curtis Brown creative writing course and the Royal Court Theatre's writers' program. She works in the tech industry and produces and hosts a podcast dedicated to women in sports. The Circus Train is her first novel.

A magical, vibrant parade of a novel about extraordinary people finding light in history's darkest decades. Spellbinding stuff -- Erin Kelly, author of HE SAID SHE SAID Intricately plotted with a rich cast of characters, The Circus Train is a compelling story of magic and survival against the odds. * SUNDAY TIMES * An enchanting story of love, loss and survival in a world wrecked by war -- Eithne Farry * MAIL ON SUNDAY * Impeccably researched . . .The Circus Train is unashamedly romantic, but Parikh is never mawkish. Lena is an intelligent, feisty heroine and her rite of passage is compelling. In the end, this is an uplifting read and a welcome escape from our turbulent times. -- Lucy Popescu * GUARDIAN * Lucinda Riley fans will love this heartwarming novel . . . a story full of hope and bravery -- Nina Pottell * PRIMA * A gorgeous debut, full of wonder, hope and heartbreak * WOMAN'S WEEKLY * Parikh's storytelling skills evoke the world of duplicity and desperation lying behind the scenes of circus dazzle. Thorough research adds a further note of welcome authenticity. A compelling story of love, loss, betrayal and deceit overshadowed by the threat of World War II. -- Fanny Blake * DAILY MAIL * Utterly absorbing -- Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE WINTER GARDEN Step onto The Circus Train and prepare for a fantastical journey back in time, to another world with vibrant characters that leap from the page. I read The Circus Train in just two sittings, immersed in Lena's world, fascinated by the historical details that the author cleverly weaves through the plot. Highly recommended if you love historical fiction with a touch of heart-warming and magical romance, or if you crave a huge dose of adventure. -- Louise Morrish, author of OPERATION MOONLIGHT Stunning . . . The Circus Train conjures up the glittering story of Lena, a young, disabled woman in a travelling circus. In the face of terrible adversity, she is determined not just to survive, but to thrive. -- Polly Crosby, author of THE ILLUSTRATED CHILD The Circus Train is a cinematic tale, languorously crafted to immerse readers into the world of magic and subterfuge. Parikh is a natural storyteller - her lines imbue the novel with a poetic authenticity and legitimacy that we saw in Sara Gruen's novel Water for Elephants and, to some extent, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus. * SYDNEY HERALD * Absorbing and satisfying -- Sarah Morgan, author of SLEEPLESS IN MANHATTAN A spellbinding and life affirming novel, The Circus Train captivates from the very first page -- Iris Costello, author of THE SECRETS OF ROCHESTER PLACE The Circus Train is an epic, beautifully researched, heart-in-mouth adventure with magic on every page. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Lena, Theo and Alexandre's world. -- Emma Styles, author of NO COUNTRY FOR GIRLS I spent a wonder-filled afternoon immersed in The Circus Train. Sweeping and captivating historical fiction. -- Sophie Anderson, author of THE THIEF WHO SANG STORMS I very much enjoyed The Circus Train -- Alexandra Bell, author of THE WINTER GARDEN One of my favourite books of the year . . . a beautiful novel -- Stacey Thomas, author of THE REVELS A poignant story of a young woman's strive for independence, overcoming disability, the atrocities of WWII, and betrayal. Heartbreak, romance and love filter throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending offering hope -- Glynis Peters, author of THE SECRET ORPHAN A spellbinding tale of illusions, family secrets, courage, and devotion, as a circus train tours European cities under threat of war and persecution. Amita Parikh's skills as a storyteller will enthrall the reader. In Lena Papadopoulos she has created an irresistible and memorable young heroine. -- Carol Windley, author of 'Midnight Train to Prague' Sit back and enjoy as this magical story transports you through war-torn Europe, demonstrating how family can be found in the most unconventional ways. -- Shilpi Somaya Gowda, author of The Shape of Family The Circus Train is a lush, luminous story of outsiders, those disadvantaged by accidents of birth or menacing political regimes. Amita Parikh's prose shimmers; get ready to be immersed in its rich textures and breathtaking illusions - fire jugglers, mermaid-acrobats, and more. But the real magic is human connection, a sense of belonging, self-fulfillment. I cheered until the final page for Parikh's characters who strive to beat the odds in a world of turmoil, characters drawn with great love by their creator, in this novel so generous in scope and heart. -- Jeanette Lynes, author of 'The Small Things that End the World' The Circus Train is a dazzling and delightful debut. Amita Parikh plunges us into a mesmerizing tale of colourful acts and characters, who must elicit truth from illusion as they face dark forces and seek out their places in a changing world. I thoroughly enjoyed this read -- Ellen Keith, bestselling author of 'The Dutch Wife' Set against the vivid and original backdrop of a traveling circus in World War II Europe, The Circus Train is . . . a powerful reminder that to live is not just to survive, but to be seen and known for ourselves -- Pam Jenoff, author of THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR Magic, love, destiny, and illusion combine with the glitter of 20th century circus life and the heartbreak of war in The Circus Train, Amita Parikh's masterful first novel . . .. A powerful tale of hope in the face of tragedy and great love in the face of staggering loss. An extraordinary debut. -- KRISTIN HARMEL, author of THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES I fell head and heart into the pages of The Circus Train. The triumphant spirit of the characters shines brightly as they navigate the extravagance of the World of Wonders circus and a challenging historical landscape. This is a book readers will carry with them, in the best of ways, for a long time to come -- Lorelei Savaryn, author of THE CIRCUS OF STOLEN DREAMS Fascinating. . . 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 * Publisher's Weekly * Immersive and intricately plotted, this novel brings to life the precarious, colorful world of circus performance in prewar Europe, where nothing is as it seems, danger lurks around every corner, and success is a matter of confidence, luck, and risk. Lena, Alexandre, and Theo are lovable characters, each backed by three-dimensional backstories that expand and intersect satisfyingly as the novel progresses. . . Parikh has created a carefully researched historical debut whose bighearted, sensitive protagonist makes the reader's emotional journey well worth it. Lively and richly detailed. * Kirkus * [A] multilevel story of friendship, love, and survival spanning the World War II era. . . [Parikh's] research into circuses, concentration camps, and disability all provide a keen historical realism to her characters and events. Indeed, it is Parikh's sensitive eye toward the reality of living with polio in the 1930s to 1950s that is the real heart of this romantic tale. * Library Journal *