Synopses & Reviews
Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and best-selling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.
After years of struggling on the dime museum circuit, Harry Houdini got a break that put him on the front page of a Chicago newspaper. He never looked back. Soon Houdini was performing for royalty, commanding vast sums, and exploring the new power of Hollywood to expand on his legend.
At a time when spy agencies frequently co-opted amateurs, Houdini went to London and developed a relationship with a man who would run MI-5. For the next several years, the world's most famous magician traveled to Germany and Russia and routinely reported his findings.
After World War I was successfully concluded, Houdini embarked on a battle of his own. He created a group of disguised field operatives to infiltrate the seamy world of fake spirit mediums. In doing so, Houdini triggered the wrath of fanatical Spiritualists, led by the esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Death threats became an everyday occurrence, but the group would pose an even greater danger to Houdini's legacy.
Rigorously researched, and as exciting as a good thriller, The Secret Life of Houdini traces the arc of the master magician's life from desperate poverty to worldwide legend, initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic. In this remarkable book, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.
Synopsis
Draws on newly uncovered archives and the co-author's expertise in magic to reveal Houdini's secret work as a spy for the United States and England, his post-war efforts to expose the fraudulent activities of spiritualist mediums, and the plot organized by Arthur Conan Doyle to have him murdered. 125,000 first printing.
Synopsis
After years of struggling on the dime museum circuit, Harry Houdini got a break that put him on the front page of a Chicago newspaper. Soon Houdini was performing for royalty, commanding vast sums, and exploring the new power of Hollywood. At a time whenspy agencies frequently co-opted amateurs, Houdini developed a relationship with a man who would later run MI-5. For the next several years, the world's most famous magician traveled to Germany and Russia and routinely reported his findings. After World War I, Houdini embarked on a battle of his own, creating a group of operatives to infiltrate the seamy world of fake spirit mediums. In doing so, he triggered the wrath of fanatical Spiritualists, led by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Death threats became an everyday occurrence, but the group would pose an even greater danger to Houdini's legacy.--From publisher description.Draws on newly uncovered archives to reveal Houdini's secret work as a spy for the United States and England, his post-war efforts to expose the fraudulent activities of spiritualist mediums, and the plot organized by Arthur Conan Doyle to have him murdered.
About the Author
William Kalush has been a dedicated student of the art of magic for more than twenty-five years. Founder of the Conjuring Arts Research Center and publisher of Gibecière, an esteemed magic history journal, he has helped create several world-famous magic stunts and prime-time network television specials.Larry Sloman is an award-winning author best known for his collaborations with radio personality Howard Stern on Private Parts and Miss America. He became interested in magic history after working with David Blaine on his best-selling memoir Mysterious Stranger.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
1. THE OATH
2. STARVING FOR A LIVING
3. THE CELEBRATED CLAIRVOYANTS
4. QUID PRO QUO
5. THE KING OF HANDCUFFS
6. M
7. POLICE STATE
8. TAMING THE BEAR
9. THE CHALLENGE OF THE MIRROR
10. LEAP OF FAITH
11. KILL THY FATHER
12. DEATH VISITS THE STAGE
13. ABOVE THE DOWN UNDER
14. THE EMPEROR OF SYMPATHY-ENLISTERS
15. CHINESE WATER TORTURE
16. FORGIVE
17. FIGHTING OUR WAY TO THE GRAVE
18. DEATH BY MISADVENTURE
19. ART IMITATES LIFE
20. SAUL AMONG THE PROPHETS
21. LITTLE SISTER WILL DO EXACTLY AS BIG BROTHER SAYS
22. MARGERY'S BOX
23. MY OWN SECRET SERVICE
24. I . . . AM A FAKE
25. AN EYE FOR AN EYE
26. THERE IS NO DEATH
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Index
About the Authors