Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/arts/12iht-0713water-review.6629438.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/books/11elep.html

http://waterforelephantsfilm.com/2011/01/11/water-for-elephants-on-the-new-york-times-bestseller-list-again/

How Sara Got Her Groove On

Edward J. Kelty

The day before Sara Gruen began her work on Water for Elephants, it was not the book she intended to write. Gruen accidently came across the circus photographs of Edward J. Kelty, a banquet photographer who took an interest in

photographing the circus during the 1940's. His photos inspired as well as mesmerized Ms. Gruen and led her to explore the world of the circus of that era and, consequently, write her novel.

 http://www.curledup.com/intgruen.htm

Discussion Questions

http://saragruen.com/water-for-elephants/reader-guide/

For more information about circus life during the Depression check out the wiki on HBO's Carnivale.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carniv%C3%A0le

History and background on the circus.

http://www.circusinamerica.org/public/timelines?date1=1906&date2=1940

Baraboo's Circus World Museum. Check out this setting used for the film.

http://host.madison.com/mobile/article_1f2b00be-9f30-11df-aa02-001cc4c002e0.html

Who will be in the upcoming film?

http://waterforelephantsfilm.com/the-cast/