A review by sampayn3
Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

3.0

Carter's absurd tale was a whimsical adventure into circus life, and the mechanics of performance. While there is an overwhelming fantasy element to Nights at the Circus, there is much more striking political discourse simmering away underneath. As it engages with truth and reality, the novel toys with identity and what it means to be wearing a well-maintained mask. Gender, sexuality and feminism are all relevant here as Carter dissects our unjust social perceptions, and the norms that we associate with different members of society. The aerialist, Fevvers, is everything that a women is not - and for that I am thankful. Nights at the Circus uses magical realism to destabilise all current 'common sense' understanding of each other, rending the audience utterly confused. It is a wonderful, wild adventure.