• The Great and Only Barnum

  • The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum
  • By: Candace Fleming
  • Narrated by: Christopher Lane
  • Length: 2 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (84 ratings)

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The Great and Only Barnum  By  cover art

The Great and Only Barnum

By: Candace Fleming
Narrated by: Christopher Lane
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Publisher's summary

Come one, come all to this larger-than-life biography of P. T. Barnum, showman and founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Visit Barnum's American Museum, established in only four weeks! Meet Madame Josephine Clofulia, the Swiss Bearded Lady. Get to know Tom Thumb, a miniature man (only twenty-five inches tall), and his tiny bride (32 inches). Watch as the circus parade goes by, elephants tail to trunk, costumed performers waving, lions yawning. Then, under the big top, as Barnum steps into the spotlight, cast your eyes on the center ring and prepare to be amazed.

Drawing on old circus posters, photographs, etchings, ticket stubs, playbills, award-winning author Candace Fleming presents history as it's never been experienced before - a stupendous, tremendous, showstopping event!

©2011 Candace Fleming (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2010

What listeners say about The Great and Only Barnum

Average customer ratings
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PT Barnum

the one & only - loved it from start to finish. What an amazing piece of history., to learn about. I just knew the circus part - thoroughly entertaining!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

This was a great addition to our home schooling unit study on The Greatest Showman! We enjoyed it immensely.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wow what a run at life he had...

Wow! Such an interesting array of Quests and Challenges in his energetic and non-stop lifetime

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

School Report

This was great for my 6th grade report on P. T. Barnum. It was enjoyable to listen to as well.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perfectly told!

Just enough information that you understand the man, but not so much detail you get bored.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A nice summary of his life

I wanted to learn more about the Life of PT Barnum and this fit the bill. It gave me all the information I needed without being boring or too in depth. Was worth the time spent listening to it

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Meh

Read as an audible with the kids. It was lighthearted and easy and they loved it. I was bored to tears but it wasn’t awful.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Almost like cliff notes

This book only dabbles in the life of PT Barnum. Its lacking in any detail and glosses over multiple events with the most basic information. It’s a shame such a fantastic story was relegated to a cliff note style. Pass on this one...

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