Details: Divination, incantation, alchemy, sorcery, and all the most confounding feats of magic, both ancient and modern, are here in this comprehensive and inclusive book. How did the great masters of magic create their incredible illusions? Reaching back into the mists of history and around the globe, we see the great Dedi perform before the Egyptian pharaoh, an American Indian tribal magician make an arrow dance, an Indian fakir lift tremendous weights with his eyes. Coming closer in time we meet Philadelphus Philadelphia, the first non-Indian American-born magician, and the erratic genius Count Cagliostro.

Behind-the-scenes accounts highlight the careers of some of the world’s greatest magicians: such stars of the more recent past as Robert-Houdin, often considered the Father of Modern Magic; the Brothers Herrmann, who conquered the New World, and the illustrious Adelaide Herrmann, who, with her own magic show, carried on her husband’s name after his death; John Nevil Maskelyne, who got his start by exposing the notorious Davenport Brothers; Harry Kellar, who traveled to the far corners of the earth; Howard Thurston, who gave up a religious career when he was smitten by the magic bug; Houdini, the master escape artist; and the King of Showmen, Harry Blackstone. The list is as impressive as the names are exotic: Professor Pinetti, Signor Blitz, Buatier de Kolta, Cardini, Virgil the Great, and innumerable others, including the present-day miracle-men who have created the second golden age of magic.

In addition, a special section features 150 mystifying tricks, showing you with illustrated, step-by-step instructions how you can perform each of these wonders of the conjurer’s art. Of these enticing and delightful tricks, 50 are modern versions of those done by the masters themselves. The remaining 100 tricks, though simpler in detail, are just as effective in amusing and dazzling an audience.

More than 700 photographs and line drawings, many in full color, enliven this exciting volume, which is truly two books in one-the story of how magic developed through the ages, and a clear, easy-to-follow guide to performing mystifying illusions and sleight of hand.

(Format: Hardback)

Contents:

THE MAGIC OF MAGIC 11
A brief introduction to magic and magic-making, highlighting the timelessness and universality of magic as a performing art.

CHAPTER 1-BLACK MAGIC, WHITE MAGIC 12
The growth and development of magic from prehistory to the age of science. The primitive magician-the rites of imitative and contagious magic and the uses of black and white magic-the astrologer-priests of Chaldea-the magic-making of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome-the monotheistic Israelites-the rise of Christianity and the elevation of Satan-the Cabala-the growing conflict between magic and religion-the Church versus sorcery, witchcraft, Satanism, and all manner of pagan beliefs-the Inquisition-the tribulations of the conjurer and the alchemist-black magic scourged and the conjurer moved to center stage.

CHAPTER 2-FROM THE FIRST MAGICIANS… 35
Dedi the Egyptian and the first recorded conjuring feat-the clever magic-cum- science of the ancient Egyptian and Greek temple priests-the mystery of the cups and balls-conjuring in the New World-the gory machinations of Europe’s medieval conjurers and the first exposéof their techniques-the Indian Rope Trick and other fabled magic of the Orient-Vaucanson, von Kempelen, and the automata of the industrial era-the magicians themselves: Jacob Philadelphia, Isaac Fawkes, Philip Breslaw, Gustavus Katterfelto, Giovanni Giuseppi Pinetti, and the dashing charlatan Giuseppi Balsamo, Alessandro, Conte di Cagliostro.

CHAPTER 3-… TO THE MASTERS OF MAGIC 59
The glorious golden age of magic, highlighting the lives-and greatest tricks-of its most masterful conjurers, including…

THE INNOVATOR-JEAN EUGENE ROBERT-HOUDIN and his contemporaries, 60
The Great Bosco, Comus, Louis Comte, Philippe, Signor Blitz, Joseph Michael Hartz, Robert Heller, John Henry Anderson.
THE NEW WORLD RECONQUERED-THE BROTHERS HERRMANN, including 71
Carl, Alexander, and the rest of the conjuring Herrmann family, along with the Davenport Brothers, Professor Pepper and his fabulous “ghost,” and the inventions of Joseph de Kolta.

FOUNDER OF A DYNASTY-JOHN NEVIL MASKELYNE. Confrontation with the Davenport Brothers and the beginning of the dynasty, with the help of George Cooke and David Devant. 78
TO THE FAR CORNERS OF THE WORLD-HARRY KELLAR and his companions-in-conjuring, the Fakir of Ava, the Davenports, and “Professor” William Fay. 82
MAGICIAN TO MILLIONS-HOWARD THURSTON and his masterful contemporaries, T. Nelson Downs, Leon Herrmann, and William Robinson, who became the Oriental Chung Ling Soo. 88
THE GREAT ESCAPE-HARRY HOUDINI along with the great magic-making vaudevillians, P. T. Selbit, Harry Goldin, Gus Fowler, Nate Leipzig, Cardini, and Joseph Michael Hartz, and the creative conjurings of Johann Hofzinser, Wiljalba Frikell, and Joseph Dunninger. 94
KING OF THE SHOWMEN-HARRY BLACKSTONE and the masterful Sorcar, Jack Gwynne, Fred Keating, John Mulholland, and today’s new breed of brilliant conjurers. 106

CHAPTER 4 – FIFTY CONTEMPORARY VERSIONS OF THE MASTERS’ MOST ALLURING TRICKS AND HOW TO DO THEM 115
Featuring fifty dazzling deceptions adapted from the tricks of the world’s most masterful magicians. Complete step-by-step instructions for preparation and per­ formance of each trick. Essential insight and advice for prospective performers from famous magician George Gilbert.

CARD MAGIC 116 HANDKERCHIEF MAGIC 179 PRODUCTION MAGIC 191
MONEY MAGIC 155 LIQUID MAGIC 171 MENTAL MAGIC 131
ROPE MAGIC 143 PAPER MAGIC 165 CLASSIC MAGIC 211
OCCULT MAGIC 203

CHAPTER 5 – ANOTHER ONE HUNDRED MYSTIFYING TRICKS YOU CAN PERFORM 231

Ad Copy used with permission Andy Martin and www.martinsmagic.com