As a young man Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth It was the early part of the great Depression and for Jacob now ninety the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell A veterinary student just shy of a degree he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie It was there that he met Marlena the beautiful equestrian star married to August the charismatic but twisted animal trainer And he met Rosie an un-trainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust and ultimately it was their only hope for survival
