Acrobats and Mountebanks

Step into the bustling fairgrounds of the nineteenth‑century, where acrobats and mountebanks—known in French as saltimbanques—leap, juggle, and hawk their wares beneath a canvas of bright tents. The author moves beyond fanciful tales, tracing the etymology of the performers’ names and uncovering their roots in medieval marketplaces where a “banc” served both as a money‑changing table and a spring‑board for daring feats. Richly illustrated with more than two hundred lithographs, the volume brings the vivid costumes, daring stunts, and colorful characters of this nomadic world to life for the listener’s imagination.

Unlike earlier pamphlets that treated the circus as mere spectacle, this study pairs careful observation with thoughtful philosophy, revealing how the modern, middle‑class acrobat resists the cheap stereotypes that bind him to the world of finance. The narrative balances scholarly detail with an accessible, almost conversational tone, offering a rare glimpse into a community that has long remained on the fringes of mainstream society. Listeners will come away with a deeper appreciation for the craft, culture, and enduring allure of the saltimbanques.