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"'A highly entertaining study of magic's Golden Age' (The Times). Simon Mayo and Independent Book of the Year and International Bestseller. The true story behind Jonathan Strange"
Metro
Steinmeyer's entertaining overview of the subject promises much - examining history's countless famous illusions and most vibrant characters...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this excellent book Jim Steinmeyer transports the reader back to the times where magic shows were the biggest draws in town. He leads us backstage to witness the scheming and stealing, and professional jealousies that drove the leading magicians of the age in their quest to find the next big trick. Considering the American background of the author he gives a surprisingly large part of the book over to the British magicians Maskelyne, Devant and Morrit.
Mr Steinmeyer knows his subject very well - he is currently the world's leading designer of stage illusions (he's the guy who designed Copperfield's Disappearance of the Statue of Liberty). He is able to describe the technical aspects of the tricks well, giving just enough information to understand the mechanics without ruining the flow of the story. He clearly revels in the innovation of Devant, Morrit and Jarrett and is capable of passing that enthusiasm to the reader.
Highly recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Arguably the finest history of the magical illusion ever written, this book is a riveting read from start to finish. Not only do you learn about the personalities, the egos and the vanities of the magicians themselves, the intense competitive rivalries that fuelled the development of their illusions, and precise technical details of the illusions themselves, how they arose, the issues they posed and how the showmen presented their technical wizardry. We learn for example that Houdini was a great escapologist but a lousy magician, how David Devant's act was "all done by kindness", in fact the entire history of the golden age of magic. Utterly fascinating and a must read book :D
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you have or have had any interest in stage magic then do yourself a favour and get this book. It is an absolute joy to read. A really well written and page-turning history of the many characters who created the illusions which are still being used today. What I found most surprising was how attached I became to the main protagonists in my reading, so by the time you reach the 1920s-30s toward the end of the book and they start to pass away (as people tend to do) I found it all a bit sad. Yet again, this is down to Mr. Steinmeyer's wonderful style and passion for his subject. Superb!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A fast-paced & entertaining history of magic
I've read this book three times now. It was bought for me as a gift after I mentioned that I really enjoyed the movie "The Prestige". Read more
Published 11 months ago by genie
Magic!
Just couldn't put it down after starting to read it. It's a fascinating history of the magicians and illusions of the past. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Oldends
A fascinating history of everything magical
Lovers of magic will find this book an addictive page turner. Steinmeyer has managed to write a fascinating history of magic which is as addicitive as any novel. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2009 by Hayles
A great overview of the golden age of stage magic
Customer Video Review
Length:
3:24
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Published on 16 Jan 2009 by Alexandre Maron
Remarkably pacy
I originally bought this as it had a similar cover to "Carter Beats the Devil" and its theme looked similar. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2005 by Rhys
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