The Grand Gypsy: A Memoir is the enchanting story of Ottavio Canestrelli, an Italian circus performer. Born into a circus family several generations long, Canestrelli was raised under a makeshift big-top, performing alongside his family members and a colorful menagerie. As an adult, he traveled the world, both as a performer and while in the army. He shares his stories of growing up in a circus, living and fighting through both World Wars, crossing paths with grand historical figures like Gandhi, and carrying on the legacy of the Canestrelli Circus. After Canestrelli passed away, his grandson, Ottavio Gesmundo, polished and published his grandfather’s memoir, honoring the man he knew as The Grand Gypsy.

This book opens with a quote by author, historian, and editor, Dominique Jando: “Artists from old Italian circus families are the keepers of a precious wealth of historical knowledge.” That alone sums up Ottavio Canestrelli’s memoir perfectly. His words are, quite simply, precious. His life experiences and unique voice in sharing them help shed a new light on one of the most fascinating and tumultuous eras in history. Peppered with additional text from his grandson, Gesmundo, and a plethora of captivating historical photographs, The Grand Gypsy is an outstanding literary experience from beginning to end.

The Grand Gypsy is equal parts an entertaining portrait of circus life, a war drama, a heartwarming snapshot of family life, and a thrilling memoir. By the end of the book, Ottavio and the Canestrelli family feel welcome and familiar, as if all who read The Grand Gypsy: A Memoir are now truly a part of the Canestrelli legacy, too.

Originally critiqued by a member of the Authors Talk About It team.

Circus Report 8/26/16

"The Grand Gypsy” was published on June 9, 2016 and is on sale both as a paperback and eBook through Lulu.com and should also be available from Amazon, AppleBooks, Kobo, and Ingram, with worldwide distribution.

A paperback book, six inches wide and nine tall, it has 238 pages and is published in English. The list price is $18.98 and the book is well-illustrated in black and white photos, over 170 in fact, and can be obtained at www.thegrandgypsy.com.

Historian and author Dominique Jando comments on the uniqueness of this particular book, the life story of an Italian Circus performer, Ottavio Canestrelli and that in his lifetime he was able to document all the fascinating phases of his life for himself, not through a ghost writer. He began his memoirs in 1970 and died in Sarasota, Florida in November 1977, aged 81. Now his grandson, Ottavio Gesmundo (a son of the bounding rope artiste La Tosca Canestrelli who appeared in London with Bertram Mills Circus over sixty years ago) has published Canestrelli’s fascinating story. His grandfather’s memoirs are italicized throughout the book, but Gesmundo has added some explanatory commentary on relevant events that were omitted from the original manuscript, and has expanded on some aspects of the story.

Canestrelli was born June 10, 1896 at his father’s circus, and travelled the world as a circus performer, became a decorated World War I veteran, and impresario and multitalented showman, his last contribution to circus history being his celebrated chimpanzee act, Mr. Coco and Company, the chimps dressed as US soldiers, Ottavio as a Bilko-esque sergeant.

The story of his travels, his acts and those of his talented family will enthrall any reader, and this is a most well-written and structured book on the life of “The Grandest of Gypsies”. I recommend it whole-heartedly, being Ottavio Gesmundo the co-writer who brought the book to fruition, and Ottavio’s grandson, comes from more than six generations of the family and lives in Las Vegas. He has appeared in over 25 Las Vegas productions as a dancer, singer actor, and stuntman, including in “A Chorus Line” at the Sahara, “Lido de Paris” at the Stardust, and in “EFX” at the MGM Grand Hotel with Michael Crawford, David Cassidy, and Tommy Tune. He’s appeared in “Saturday Night Fever” on Broadway, Elton John's and Tim Rice’s musical “Aida” and in Spider-Man Live!”. In addition to performing, he is a choreographer and director in circus and theatrical productions and with his wife Naomi, performs around the world his crossbow marksmanship act as “Mr. and Mrs. G”. In him and a host of others in the Canestrelli clan, the future of the Canestrellis in show business is assured. Do try and obtain a copy of this mesmerizing book!

“Artists from old Italian circus families are the keepers of a precious wealth of historical knowledge. Unfortunately, they rarely write, or if they do, they use the help of a ghostwriter who generally doesn’t truly understand the tenets and traditions of circus life, or even the difference between "high wire" and “trapeze.” Ottavio Canestrelli, however, was an avid book reader who could write, and he wrote about his extraordinary and fascinating life — as lives of his ilk always are. 

Ottavio Gesmundo, his grandson, ran away and joined the real life, got a “serious” education”, and eventually returned where he belonged — the circus. He thus was the perfect editor for Ottavio Canestrelli’s writings, and a wonderful guide to make us better understand his grandfather’s memories of what is to many an unfamiliar world. The grand Gypsy is indeed fascinating and highly enjoyable reading, not only for anyone interested in circus history, but also for any curious or adventurous mind.”

Dominique Jando
Editor, Circopedia.org

July 2016-
I love a compelling circus history, so I was thrilled to discover the recently published book The Grand Gypsy. Las Vegas based circus and variety performer Ottavio Gesmundo has painstakingly updated the memoir that his grandfather Ottavio Canestrelli determinedly set down on paper at the end of his career some 40 years ago. Fans of that era enjoyed the Canestrelli chimpanzee novelty act at the newly opened Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas, but few of them had any idea of the scope of the adventure that proceeded the Nevada years. The book, generously illustrated with vintage photographs, chronicles an 80-year career in the circus business during which Canestrelli traveled the world performing with shows large and small. The names of circus luminaries tumble out the pages so quickly that it is hard to imagine a time when so many great circus artists were just beginning their rise to stardom. Even more engaging are the genealogies that link Canestrelli to a web of relatives that read like a who’s who of circus superstars. The extended family tree includes Cristianis, Zucchinis, Ataydes, Nocks, Hartzells, Gesmundos, Fumagalis, Lentinis, and many more.
During a lifetime that spanned the 19th and 20th centuries, Canestrelli fought in World War I, witnessed the excavation of the Sphinx in Egypt, barely escaped Hitler in Germany, met Mahatma Gandhi in India, performed in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, survived a riot in Uruguay, headlined at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. While with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, he trained his daughter as a bounding rope artist. She later returned to The Greatest Show on Earth, this times its star attraction, the legendary La Tosca.
Any circus fan will find this volume hard to resist. At 238 pages, with over 170 historical photographs, the book is a delight to read. I highly recommend it as a delightful addition to you circus library.
Available from publisher <www.lulu.com> as well as Amazon and other sources. ISBN: 9781483448947, published June, 2016.