Michel Bonnet is an unemployed horse trainer in Paris in 1940 when his laid-back life is interrupted by the arrival of the German army. He escapes the city in a train car, which turns out to belong to the circus of ringmaster Werner, who reluctantly hires Michel to care for the horses. Despite the cold reception he receives from Werner, Michel makes friends with the performers and becomes infatuated with beautiful trapeze artist Frieda. As they travel across France, performing in fields for people desperate for entertainment, Michel learns why Werner was so mistrustful--most of the performers are Jewish, including Frieda, and the only way to keep them safe is to keep moving. Originally published in the UK in 2020, The Ringmaster's Daughter reads like a fairy tale, with the increasing presence of the Nazis an ever-present threat in contrast to the magic of the circus. The dangerous reality of occupied France looms large until one final performance, but even then, safe landings are not guaranteed. A unique WWII tale based on a true story.