Weird Books: THE MAGIC CIRCUS
A rare British gem of quirky absurdity.
THE MAGIC CIRCUS is a rare gem of a children’s picture book I hath just acquired. Published in the UK in 1979, it is the second collaboration between author Christopher Logue and illustrator Wayne Anderson. The pair had previously created a gorgeous & haunting book (which I also have) called RATSMAGIC in 1977.
Christopher Logue was a poet, playwright, and occasional actor. He shows up for a few seconds in Terry Gilliam’s 1977 film JABBERWOCKY as a crazy person whipping himself with spaghetti noodles and eating them.
Wayne Anderson is still alive to my knowledge, and it is a personal goal of mine to seek out copies of books he has worked on. So far I have found the afore-mentioned books, THE TIN FOREST, and THE FLIGHT OF DRAGONS.
Here is a synopsis of THE MAGIC CIRCUS from the back cover.
When you enter the world of The Magic Circus the most startling things begin to happen, and never was there a cast of quite such extraordinary performers! There is Big Beryl, the fabulous Fat Lady with a dress size of 100.5, and the Lion who sleeps in her shoe; Captain Humperson, with thighs of steel; Miss Mint of the Flying Mints, Aerial Artists Extraordinary; and Mr. Fiddler, Percy the Bassoonist, and Banjo Dan of The Band. All that stands in the way of their great annual performance is a certain Doctor Growser, a sour-tempered conjurer who loathes all circuses because not one circus has invited him to join. At the doctor’s command is his enormous monster Megalump, who loves a good laugh but becomes terrifyingly enraged when lonely. Will the show go on?
This is Megalump. Seeing this image online was the main reason why I needed to get this book into my collection. The Magic Circus is trapped inside his mouth and Doctor Growser is sitting on his hand. He need only command ‘Megalump, swallow!’ and the Magic Circus would never be seen again.
When the Magic Circus escapes, Captain Humperson lifts everyone up with his hands and hurls them into the air.
The Magic Circus lands in a heap, and some of the creatures are upside-down.
Here is Megalump left alone, which is not a good idea.
He galumphs through the forest “like a castle on stilts” and his bellow goes from Bellow Normal to Bellow Loud to Bellow Deafening. His Galumph changes into a Galumphelton and the forest floor trembles beneath his feet.
Doctor Growser becomes entangled in a spider web at one point.
More shenanigans ensue as Doctor Growser attempts to conjure an iron bubble to trap Megalump inside.
Other illustrations grace and frame the text occasionally.
All ends well and the Magic Circus lives to see another day. When I saw this final illustration I giggled like a schoolboy.
Isn’t this glorious? I love weird stuff like this. If you ever find another rare book illustrated by Wayne Anderson — particularly from the 1970s or thereabouts — please let me know! I may ask you to snatch it for me.