O salto mortal: Ascendino Leite

Abstract

“Salto Mortal”, by Ascendino Leite, is a work that defies the gravity of conventional literature and takes us on an acrobatic flight through the lives of two trapeze artists, Mario Santelli and Tommy Zane. The narrative, told from Tommy’s perspective, is a deep dive into the raw and colorful reality of the traveling circuses of the 1930s and 1940s. The author, with his masterful skill, weaves a rich and vivid tapestry of circus daily life, interweaving chronicles, poems and testimonies that capture the essence of life under the circus tent. Each page is a balancing act, oscillating between joy and sadness, triumph and tragedy, hope and despair. The romance between Mario and Tommy is portrayed with delicate sensitivity, a somersault into the reader’s heart. Their passion is as palpable as the tension of a tightrope, and the complexity of their feelings is explored with a depth rarely seen in contemporary literature. Ascendino Leite demonstrates a profound understanding of the human condition, and his prose is as sharp as a knife-thrower’s blade. “Salto Mortal” is more than just a book; it is an experience, an invitation to step into the ring and witness the beauty and brutality of circus life. In short, “Salto Mortal” is a literary masterpiece that defies convention and lifts the reader to new heights. It is a book that, like a trapeze artist’s act, must be experienced to be truly appreciated.