Mountebank

Mountebank, written by William John Locke, follows the life of Andrew Lackaday, an English orphan raised in a French circus. A talented mimic and juggler, he travels the country with his assistant Elodie until World War I transforms him into a Brigadier General. After the war, Lackaday returns to his former profession, only to find that the world of entertainment has drastically changed. This novel, published in the early 20th century, explores themes of identity and adaptation in a post-war society.