Michel and Angele, or a Ladder of Swords by Gilbert Parker is the story of Michel de la Foret and Angele Aubert, two Huguenots who flee France and take refuge at the Walloon Church in England. Based on true events, this adventure novel follows their lives on their chaotic and troublesome travels.

"Joe Nickell - once a carnival pitchman, then a magician, private detective, and investigative writer - has pursued sideshow secrets for years and has worked the famous carnival midway at the Canadian National Exhibition. For this book, he interviewed showmen and performers, collected carnival memorabilia, researched published accounts of sideshows and their lore, and even performed some classic sideshow feats, such as eating fire and lying on a bed of nails as a cinderblock was broken on his chest. The result of these varied efforts, Secrets of the Sideshows tells the captivating story of the magic, tricks - real or illusory - and performers of the world's midway shows."--BOOK JACKET.