Don't Call Us Carnies

We are Showies and damn proud of it

Norma Brophy, Wendy Stuart

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Paperback

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English

Affirm Press
25 January 2022

Memoirs; Biography - Australian

While many Australian teenagers have dreamed of joining a travelling circus, Norma Brophy wanted to run away from it. As a born and bred 'show person', she adored her early years on the road, running wild in town after town with her fellow little 'showies'. But growing up backstage of a famed travelling show wasn't all fun and games. At 15, Norma fled the circus and her father's violent ways, only to be drawn back by another formidable force - love.

In this vibrant, uproarious and poignant memoir, multi-talented showbiz matriarch Norma Brophy comes out of retirement to reveal a world of interest to many but understood by few. From a time before cars to the hardscrabble Depression years, in and out of war time and across the golden era of Hollywood-tinged showmanship, right up to today, Norma paints a vivid picture of Australian show culture. With authority and candour, Norma plays ringmaster to a cavalcade of characters and places that have helped form not only the story of her own record-breaking, death-defying family, but also that of countless other travelling show people, circus and rodeo folk whose exploits and ingenuity will leave you agog.

By: Norma Brophy, Wendy Stuart
Imprint: Affirm Press
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 236mm, Width: 155mm, Spine: 30mm
Weight: 400g
ISBN: 9781922626851
ISBN 10: 1922626856
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 25 January 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Norma Brophy was born on the back of a horse-drawn wagon in 1936. She spent her youth travelling Australia with her hardworking showmen family, learning carpentry, signwriting, costume design and spruiking, with a short foray as a stunt motorbike rider. Later, with her husband Mick and five children, Norma worked all aspects of show business and circus including as a spruiker, snake handler, 'psychic medium' and circus owner. Norma hung up her ringmaster's hat after managing her children's world-record-breaking acrobatic act, The Flying Angels. Today Norma's paintings of show history on tent canvas are considered valuable records of Australian history, www.carnivalart.com.au. She lives in Brisbane. Wendy Stuart is a freelance editor and wordsmith based in Queensland. She enjoyed working collaboratively with 'Aunty' Norma over several years in developing Don't Call Us Carnies. Since founding Wendy & Words in 2010, Wendy has edited over 60 non-fiction books. She is a Professional Member of the Institute of Professional Editors.