A Son Of the Circus

by Irving, John

Set in India with a complicated cast of characters including a Hindu film star, an American missionary, twins separated at birth, and a dwarf chauffeur, the plot of A Son of the Circus revolves around prostitutes murdered by a transsexual serial killer. The murders bring together a host of outcasts. Entertaining and hefty, the over 600-page novel, Irving's eighth, received mixed reviews. The artwork for the original dust jacket for A Son of the Circus was by Honi Werner, who created iconic covers for a broad range of literary and mystery books by authors including Thomas Berger, Bebe Moore Campbell, E.L. Doctorow, Isabel Allende, Philippa Gregory, Peter Hoeg, and Donna Leon.

Random House printed Irving’s three early novels before he moved to Dutton for his first best-selling success, The World According to Garp (1978). Irving followed with other best-sellers, The Cider House Rules (1985) and A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989) before returning to Random House to print what is said to be his most complicated and difficult book - A Son of the Circus

First Edition Identification

A Son of the Circus was first published in August 1994 by Random House. First editions of Random House titles of this term have "first edition" on the copyright page, and a number line starting with a 2  (2nd printings have the same number line, no “first edition.”) First British edition was published by Bloomsbury the same year.

Reviews

Review this book!

Available Copies

A Son of the Circus
More Photos

A Son of the Circus

by Irving, John

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
No Jacket, As Issued
Edition
First Edition
Published
1994
Binding
Paperback
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$168.24

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House, 1994. SIGNED BY AUTHOR. Near Fine, front cover crease (visible only on inside)..1st page excised by publisher, as with all other copies of this advance edition.. SIGNED BY AUTHOR. First Edition. Printed Wrappers. Near Fine/No Jacket, As Issued. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Advance Uncorrected Proof.
Item Price
NZ$168.24
A Son of the Circus.
More Photos

A Son of the Circus.

by IRVING, John.

Condition
As New
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First edition / First printing.
Published
1994.
Binding
Maroon cloth spine, black paper-covered boards.
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Edmonds, Washington, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$252.36

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House, 1994 Signed by the author on the title page. First edition / First printing. Maroon cloth spine, black paper-covered boards. Very fine in very fine dust jacket.
Item Price
NZ$252.36
A Son of the Circus
More Photos

A Son of the Circus

by Irving, John

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
First British Edition
Published
1994
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0747517630
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$100.94

Show Details

Description:
London: Bloomsbury, 1994. SIGNED by Irving. Near Fine-smudge on bottom edge- in Near Fine, price-clipped dust jacket, crease to front flap.. SIGNED. First British Edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Near Fine.
Item Price
NZ$100.94
No image available

A Son of the Circus

by Irving, John

Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$12.70

Show Details

Description:
Random House Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
NZ$12.70
A Son Of The Circus
More Photos

A Son Of The Circus

by John Irving

Condition
Used - First Trade edition, very good condition, dut jacket in very good condition. No markings or clipping, neat copy.
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
First Trade edition
Published
(1994)
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$126.18

Show Details

Description:
star . . . an American missionary . . . twins separated at birth . . . a dwarf chauffeur . . . a serial killer . . . all are on a collision course. In the tradition of A Prayer for Owen Meany, Irving's characters transcend nationality. They are misfits--coming from everywhere, belonging nowhere. Set almost entirely in India,… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$126.18
A Son of the Circus  - 1st Edition/1st Printing

A Son of the Circus - 1st Edition/1st Printing

by Irving, John

Condition
As New in As New dust jacket
Edition
First Edition; First Printing
Published
1994
Binding
1/4 Cloth
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Summerville, South Carolina, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$134.59

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House. As New in As New dust jacket. 1994. First Edition; First Printing. 1/4 Cloth. 0679434968 . A handsome first Trade edition/first printing (only preceded by a private publication of the Franklin Library) in unread As New condition in alike dust-jacket; Indian born and educated in Vienna, 59-year-old orthopedic surgeon Farrokh Daruwalla is a… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$134.59
A Son of the Circus.

A Son of the Circus.

by Irving, John.

Condition
Used - A fine copy, no dust jacket as issued.
Edition
Limited first edition.
Published
1994
Binding
Full burgundy leather, raised bands, gilt decorations, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, ribbon marker.
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Reno, Nevada, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$143.00

Show Details

Description:
Franklin Center, Pa. : Franklin Library. , 1994. Limited first edition. . Full burgundy leather, raised bands, gilt decorations, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, ribbon marker. . A fine copy, no dust jacket as issued. . 24.3x16 cm. . Signed by the author on the limitation page. weight: 2.8 lb.
Item Price
NZ$143.00
No image available

A Son of the Circus

by John Irving

Condition
Used - F
Jacket Condition
F
Published
1994
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$45.42

Show Details

Description:
Unmarked, unmarred copy of this National Book Award nominated novel.
Item Price
NZ$45.42
A SON OF THE CIRCUS

A SON OF THE CIRCUS

by IRVING, John

Condition
New in shrinkwrap
Edition
First Edition
Published
(1994)
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$210.30

Show Details

Description:
Franklin Center, PA: Franklin Library, (1994). First Edition. Hardcover. New in shrinkwrap. Limited and true First Edition bound in decorated leather and SIGNED by the author with a preface by him not in the trade edition.
Item Price
NZ$210.30
No image available

A SON OF THE CIRCUS

by Irving, John

Condition
Used
Edition
First Trade
Published
1994
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
La Mesa, California, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$10.60

Show Details

Description:
Random House, 1994. ISBN: 0-679-43496-8. First Trade. Hard Cover. Good/Excellent.
Item Price
NZ$10.60
No image available

A Son of the Circus

by Irving, John

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1994
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$58.88

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House, 1994. Signed by the author. Fine in fine dust wrapper
Item Price
NZ$58.88
A SON OF THE CIRCUS

A SON OF THE CIRCUS

by IRVING, John

Condition
Used - Near Fine, lacking the dustwrapper
Edition
First Trade Edition
Published
(1994)
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$210.30

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House, (1994). First Trade Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine, lacking the dustwrapper. Also published by the Franklin Library. SIGNED on the title page by the author.
Item Price
NZ$210.30
A Son of the Circus  - 1st Edition/1st Printing

A Son of the Circus - 1st Edition/1st Printing

by Irving, John

Condition
Used - Fine in Fine dust jacket
Edition
First Edition; First Printing
Published
1994
Binding
1/4 Cloth
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Summerville, South Carolina, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$134.59

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House. Fine in Fine dust jacket. 1994. First Edition; First Printing. 1/4 Cloth. 0679434968 . A Fine first edition/first printing in a barely edgeworn alike dust-jacket; John Irving is a wonderful story teller and his latest book, A Son of the Circus, is no exception. This book is a heartwarming story of a boy… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$134.59
A Son of the Circus
More Photos

A Son of the Circus

by John Irving

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Published
1994
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Portsmouth, Hampshire, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$85.05

Show Details

Description:
FIRST edition ,First printing (stated First trade edition,number line begins with 2 for Random house 1st printings) in very good condition,with unclipped dust jacket showing minimal signs of wear. Light signs of foxing to rough edges,pages clean and clear. No inscription or other writing throughout. Hardback,purple and black boards.
Item Price
NZ$85.05
A SON OF THE CIRCUS
More Photos

A SON OF THE CIRCUS

by Irving, John

Condition
Used
Published
1994
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Middletown, Maryland, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$168.24

Show Details

Description:
Franklin Center: Franklin Library, 1994. First edition. SIGNED limited edition published for members of "The Signed First Edition Society" that precedes the first trade edition. Includes an introductory "special message for the first edition" by Irving. One of an undisclosed number of copies. Fine as issued in full red leather, gilt-decorated boards with raised spine bands, all edges gilt,… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$168.24
A Son of the Circus

A Son of the Circus

by IRVING, John

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
1st Edition 1st Printing
Published
1994
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0394280571
Quantity Available
1
Seller
North Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$24.82

Show Details

Description:
Toronto, ON, Canada: Knopf , 1994. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. A Son of the Circus, IRVING, John . Alfred A. Knopf Canada, Toronto, 1994, First Canadian Edition. Maroon cloth spine with gilt titles; black boards with gilt design. Unclipped jacket has very light shelf wear; Text block pristine in unread condition; Front board has rubbing top and bottom.
Item Price
NZ$24.82
A Son of the Circus
More Photos

A Son of the Circus

by IRVING, John

Condition
Used - A fine copy in a near-fine price-clipped jacket with some very modest shelfwear
Published
1994
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Ardsley, New York, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$134.59

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House, 1994. A fine copy in a near-fine price-clipped jacket with some very modest shelfwear. 8vo. 633 pages. Original cloth; dust jacket. First trade edition, first printing, signed by Irving on the title-page.
Item Price
NZ$134.59
A son of the circus

A son of the circus

by John Irving

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1994
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Wellington, NZL
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$9.00

Show Details

Description:
New York: Random House. Good. 20 x 13cm. Paperback. 1994. 662 pages. Cover worn.<br> An Indian-Canadian doctor returns to Bombay to seek a cure for a disease which afflicts circus dwarfs and is caught up in a serial killing of prostitutes. The action i s interspersed with commentary on the lot of social misfits: pros titutes, dwarfs,… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$9.00
A Son of the Circus

A Son of the Circus

by Irving, John

Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$3.08

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
NZ$3.08
A Son of the Circus

A Son of the Circus

by Irving, John

Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0679434968
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$3.08

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Good.
Item Price
NZ$3.08