Based on contemporary reports and diaries and supported with historic photographs and period posters, Houdini is an intriguing biography of the world’s greatest magician and escape artist. Ninety years after his death, this brings both the man and his magic back to life again for one last performance.
This biography is an authoritative view from accomplished biographer Charlotte Montague, and belongs on the shelf of any lover of magic, escape artistry, and enigmatic figures.
Charlotte Montague has penned biographies of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and H.P. Lovecraft also released by Chartwell.
Purchase Houdini: The Life and Times of the World's Greatest Magician from Amazon.com (U.S.) and pre-order from Amazon.co.uk (UK - Sept 28).
UPDATE: I've just received my copy and flipped through it. The book is beautifully laid out and comprehensive. Almost an encyclopedia in how it sections off people and events. Lots of photos, all familiar. Nice to see that it tracks Houdini beyond death -- into books, movies and television, right up to last year's Houdini & Doyle and this year's Timeless. I've not gotten into the text itself, but it appears to be a nice summation of known facts. I've already spotted some mythology (Bells of the Kremlin) and inaccuracies (Buried Alive), but there's mercifully no section on his "spy work." Oh, and it's a much larger book than I thought it would be. Almost brings me back to the glory days of Houdini coffee table books. I admit I'm a little hurt to not see my site listed in Further Reading (it appears to have been sourced for the later sections at least), but this is one I'm happy to add to my shelf.
Related:
- 'The Great Houdini: His British Tours' released in UK
- 'The Magician and the Spirits' to haunt in August
Thanks I just ordered a copy.
ReplyDeleteJack
Book received. See update above.
ReplyDeleteMy copy was received today: it is nicely produced but when I turned immediately to the account of the Blackburn Challenge in October 1902 the author repeats the historical inaccuracies found in other accounts. She says the challenger was an ex-soldier called Ralph Hodgson whereas we know it was William Hope Hodgson ex-merchant seaman. She appears to be repeating information from the awful book by Ruth Brandon. What a pity!
ReplyDeleteYep, she falls into a few traps and makes a few errors. All books do. But I agree this one is a whopper.
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