Dan Rice was one of the most famous and controversial entertainers of the 19th century, a clown, circus performer, and political activist who rubbed shoulders with presidents and common folk alike. In this lively biography, Maria Ward Brown captures the spirit and energy of Rice's life and times, from his humble beginnings to his global fame, from his patriotic performances to his scandals and setbacks. With colorful anecdotes and historic context, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in American popular culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.