Reviewed by Carine Engelbrecht for Readers' Favorite

The Grand Gypsy offers a unique glimpse into a hidden world - that of the circus. The book was compiled by Ottavio Gesmundo, using a memoir written his grandfather, Ottavio Canestrelli, and tells the story of the Canestrelli family circus. The threads of various circus families come together in the two Ottavios. Through the memoir we follow the rising star of Canestrelli as he perfects his daring act and travels with various circus groups across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America. As political storms gather over Europe, the family resettles in the USA, where they perform with Ringling Brothers and later, his glamorous daughter La Tosca is crowned Queen of the Circus. The book portrays triumphs as well as accidents and mishaps. Among Ottavio Canestrelli's later coups are the two performances on the Ed Sullivan show and a world tour with his troop of engaging chimpanzees. The final part of the book introduces the current generation of Canestrellis, but also shares numerous promotional and other photos of the family and the circus. 

If you have ever dreamt of running away to the circus, then The Grand Gypsy is for you. Although there are two authors, the narratives are masterfully and harmoniously blended to create a fascinating chronicle of circus history. While Canestrelli relives the exciting heyday of the Big Top, Gesmundo adds meticulous details to anchor his grandfather's account securely within its era. It is this contribution that elevates this book from memoir to valuable historical record. It reaches beyond circus life to add insightful snapshots into the first half of the 20th century, in exotic locales such as Dakar, Bombay and Senegal, but also raises the curtain on the hazards and dangers of performing by showing what can happen when a performance goes wrong. It is obvious that a lot of care has gone into the creation of this account and for its richness in detail we are indebted to both Ottavio Canestrelli and Ottavio Gesmundo.

The Grand Gypsy: A Memoir is the enchanting story of Ottavio Canestrelli, an Italian circus performer. Born into a circus family several generations long, Canestrelli was raised under a makeshift big-top, performing alongside his family members and a colorful menagerie. As an adult, he traveled the world, both as a performer and while in the army. He shares his stories of growing up in a circus, living and fighting through both World Wars, crossing paths with grand historical figures like Gandhi, and carrying on the legacy of the Canestrelli Circus. After Canestrelli passed away, his grandson, Ottavio Gesmundo, polished and published his grandfather’s memoir, honoring the man he knew as The Grand Gypsy.This book opens with a quote by author, historian, and editor, Dominique Jando: “Artists from old Italian circus families are the keepers of a precious wealth of historical knowledge.” That alone sums up Ottavio Canestrelli’s memoir perfectly. His words are, quite simply, precious. His life experiences and unique voice in sharing them help shed a new light on one of the most fascinating and tumultuous eras in history. Peppered with additional text from his grandson, Gesmundo, and a plethora of captivating historical photographs, The Grand Gypsy is an outstanding literary experience from beginning to end.The Grand Gypsy is equal parts an entertaining portrait of circus life, a war drama, a heartwarming snapshot of family life, and a thrilling memoir. By the end of the book, Ottavio and the Canestrelli family feel welcome and familiar, as if all who read The Grand Gypsy: A Memoir are now truly a part of the Canestrelli legacy, too.Originally critiqued by a member of the Authors Talk About It team.

“Artists from old Italian circus families are the keepers of a precious wealth of historical knowledge. Unfortunately, they rarely write, or if they do, they use the help of a ghostwriter who generally doesn’t truly understand the tenets and traditions of circus life, or even the difference between "high wire" and “trapeze.” Ottavio Canestrelli, however, was an avid book reader who could write, and he wrote about his extraordinary and fascinating life — as lives of his ilk always are. 

Ottavio Gesmundo, his grandson, ran away and joined the real life, got a “serious” education, and eventually returned where he belonged — the circus. He thus was the perfect editor for Ottavio Canestrelli’s writings, and a wonderful guide to make us better understand his grandfather’s memories of what is to many an unfamiliar world. The Grand Gypsy is indeed fascinating and highly enjoyable reading, not only for anyone interested in circus history, but also for any curious or adventurous mind.”

Dominique Jando - Author, Circus Historian, and Editor, Circopedia.org

I love a compelling circus history, so I was thrilled to discover the recently published book The Grand Gypsy. Las Vegas based circus and variety performer Ottavio Gesmundo has painstakingly updated the memoir that his grandfather Ottavio Canestrelli determinedly set down on paper at the end of his career some 40 years ago. Fans of that era enjoyed the Canestrelli chimpanzee novelty act at the newly opened Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas, but few of them had any idea of the scope of the adventure that proceeded the Nevada years. The book, generously illustrated with vintage photographs, chronicles an 80-year career in the circus business during which Canestrelli traveled the world performing with shows large and small. The names of circus luminaries tumble out the pages so quickly that it is hard to imagine a time when so many great circus artists were just beginning their rise to stardom. Even more engaging are the genealogies that link Canestrelli to a web of relatives that read like a who’s who of circus superstars. The extended family tree includes Cristianis, Zucchinis, Ataydes, Nocks, Hartzells, Gesmundos, Fumagalis, Lentinis, and many more.    

During a lifetime that spanned the 19th and 20th centuries, Canestrelli fought in World War I, witnessed the excavation of the Sphinx in Egypt, barely escaped Hitler in Germany, met Mahatma Gandhi in India, performed in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, survived a riot in Uruguay, headlined at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. While with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, he trained his daughter as a bounding rope artist. She later returned to The Greatest Show on Earth, this times its star attraction, the legendary La Tosca.    

Any circus fan will find this volume hard to resist. At 238 pages, with over 170 historical photographs, the book is a delight to read. I highly recommend it as a delightful addition to you circus library.    

Available from publisher as well as Amazon and other sources. ISBN: 9781483448947, published June, 2016.