Frost tells the story of the fairs held in and around London, above all Bartholomew Fair, from their medieval beginnings to their suppression, and of the showmen who made them: puppet masters, rope-dancers, conjurors such as the famous Lane, exhibitors of giants and dwarfs, travelling menageries and booth theatres. The book weaves playbills, verses and anecdotes into a social history of popular amusement.
A colourful source on centuries of London street entertainment, for anyone interested in theatre, circus and popular culture. Download the free EPUB.