Struggles and Triumphs, or, Forty Years' Recollections of P. T. Barnum

Written by Phineas T. Barnum himself, this 1871 edition of his ongoing autobiography features both sketches and stories from his adventures as a showman and novice circus owner. The final adventure in Chapter 48 involves a meeting with Brigham Young along with one of his children named Barnum, and some playful banter about bringing Young in as an “attraction.” Barnum had just started off his circus career in 1870 after stints in the museum industry, and his autobiography went through several iterations, with new and changed stories. One edition was even said to have been given out free with a ticket to the circus, making Barnum’s life story a part of the circus-going experience for visitors.