Cat Man Author:Edward Hoagland Fiddler, an intelligent young man, has joined the circus because he is broke. He's the Cat Man, and his hands are covered in scratches and scars to prove it. Through Fiddler, Hoagland provides us with an intimate, behind-the-scenes view of life at the circus, from his freakish cohorts to the big cats themselves: Chief, the Indian boss; Brownie, ... more »the Animal Department head; One-Arm Bingo; and the big cats themselves-especially the cats. The panther, the jaguar, the cheetah, the tigers, the enormous lazy male named Joe, and Rita, the killer leopard--all become intriguing characters in their own right, populating this brilliantly written novel. The train crew, the seat department, the prop men, the winos, and the townies all play vital roles in the surreal, yet altogether real, setting of the circus. Hoagland's knowledge of the circus comes firsthand--and we are all the richer for his having lived it and written CAT MAN in its honor.« less