Umberto's Circus Author:Eduard Bass Set against the rich tapestry of life in a traveling European circus during the late nineteenth century, this colorful, panoramic story was one of the most popular European novels of the past decade. The late Eduard Bass, a liberal Czech author and journalist, wrote with an intimate and affectionate knowledge of life under the Big Top. — Umberto'... more »s Circus traveled the highways and cowpaths of Europe and the Near East while four generations succeeded each other to carry on its glittering name and tradition. The Umberto family, as well as every performer, animal trainer, tightrope walker, and stable-hand, were united by the great thing that was the Circus.« less