And soon you will be able to read it!
Bruce has made a deal with Mike Caveney of Mike Caveney's Magic Words to publish the diary complete. Every page will be reproduced. I'm honored to say that Mike and Bruce reached out to me to do research and provide detailed annotations for each and every entry. I've been working on this for the past several months and have been dazzled by the amount of new information and new characters contained in this little red book. It's a treasure trove.
The book will also be filled with rare images––many never-before-published––from major collections, including David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjurings Arts and the Harry Ransom Center. In fact, if any collectors out there have material from 1897-1899 that you'd be willing to share, please get in touch!
There is no release date yet, but it's closer than you may think. I've finished my annotations and we are currently gathering images. Our hope is to have the book in people's hands later this year or early next year. The book does have a tentative title, but I will share that along with the cover at a later date.
Even Mike Caveney admits this has him "all hopped up on Houdini." I'm certainly very excited. I think this is going to be an extraordinary book that tells the story of Houdini's early days like none other.
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| The diary on display in 2010. |
Absolutely brilliant news!! I can't wait to be able to purchase and then read this book!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'll think you'll flip for it!
DeleteI can't wait either.
DeleteWas new Houdini info revealed in that diary? I wonder if Houdini has given us some insight on when he started to do the handcuff act and the true story behind how to started to get interested in locks.
ReplyDeleteCount on loads of new info! The Handcuff Act is already part of his repertoire by 1897, so nothing on the origin. But we see development.
DeleteI've been telling you for years you're on the vanguard of all things Houdini. You're the man for the job. Caveney and Averbook know that too. Caveney and Averbook...makes a good name for a British after shave company...
ReplyDeleteThank you Leo! I'm hoping this begins a whole new era of vanguardness. :)
DeleteYou're welcome! And a big thanks to Caveney and Averbook! Let's hope the Ernst family decide to publish their HH diaries.
DeleteDo we know how many other diaries Houdini kept from 1899 forward? Were their diaries that covered every year for the rest of his life? Do we know who owns them today? Of particular interest would be his entries up to and proceeding the Mirror challenge and his final entries of October 1926.
ReplyDeleteI will certainly purchase this book as soon as it’s available!!!
Perry from NJ.
Yes, Houdini kept diaries the rest of his life. Bruce owns the 1916 diary. As far as I know, the rest of the diaries are owned by the Ernst family. Bill Kalush has access to them. Remember the documentary about the diaries a few years back?
DeleteCan’t wait until it’s publish!! I’ll definitely be placing my order!
DeleteA correction to my comment above. The Ernst family diaries begin in 1904. So no known diaries between this travel diary and 1904.
DeleteVery exciting and alluring news,thanks!
ReplyDeletegood day, don't be angry about my english. I learned that I should be a descendant of Harry Houdini. If anyone has any information from my personal life, please contact me.
ReplyDeleteRobert Weiss from Czech republic.
If you give me the name of a specific ancestor who is supposed to be the link I can check Houdini's family tree.
DeleteI cannot wait for this!!!
ReplyDelete