Review & Q&A
by Steve Ward
A war hero & showman
You may never heard of Philip Astley but, after 250 years, his name could be about to return to the big time. In April 1768, this remarkably skilled equestrian, a celebrated ex-soldier who had fought in the Seven Years’ War, pegged out a 42ft ring and first invited paying audiences to watch him perform trick riding, essentially founding the modern circus. Astley created the comic character of Billy Buttons and for 30 years brought together all kinds of circus performers to entertain generations of our ancestors. In his new book, genealogist and circus expert Steve Ward investigates the life and times of this extraordinary man, in all his 6ft, larger-than-life glory, bringing his largely forgotten story back in the public arena. With the uncovering of new biographical information, and set in a turbulent time in British history, this book is as educational as it is entertaining, as we step back into the early days of the endlessly magical circus.
• ISBN: 978-1526706874. RRP £12.99, paperback. Published on 30 April 2018 by Pen & Sword Books