Synopses & Reviews
Born Ehrich Weiss in Budapest, Hungary, Harry Houdini (1874and#8211;1926) was a rabbiand#8217;s son who became one of the 20th centuryand#8217;s most famous performers. His gripping theatrical presentations and heart-stopping outdoor spectacles attracted unprecedented crowds, and his talent for self-promotion and provocation captured headlines on both sides of the Atlantic.
Though Houdiniand#8217;s work has earned him a place in the cultural pantheon, the details of his personal life and public persona are subjects of equal fascination. His success was both cause for celebration in the Jewish community and testament to his powers of self-reinvention. In Houdini: Art and Magic, essays on the artistand#8217;s life and work are accompanied by interviews with novelist E. L. Doctorow, magician Teller (of Penn and Teller), and contemporary artists including Raymond Pettibon and Matthew Barney, documenting Houdiniand#8217;s evolution and influence from the lateand#160;19th century to the present.and#160;Beautifully illustrated with a range of visual material, including Houdiniand#8217;s own diaries, iconic handcuffs, and straitjacket, alongside rare period posters, prints, and photographs, this book brings Houdiniand#8212;both the myth and the manand#8212;back to life.
Review
and#8220;A first-rate contribution to the Houdini canon.and#8221;and#8212;Jewish Book World
Review
"A handsome catalogue."—Vanity Fair Vanity Fair
Review
"Images from the exhibition make up the bulk of this book. The materials gathered here are eye-popping promotional ephemera, family photographs, and a mountain of visual representations of Houdini. . . . Any Houdini fan must own this book, though it will also have wide-crossover appeal for those interested in topics as diverse as the Jewish experience in America to the graphic arts and historical representation. Thoughtfully written and gorgeously designed, it's the perfect introduction to the master of escapes."and#8212;W. Scott Poole, Pop Matters
Review
Finalist for the 2011 National Jewish Book Awards in the Visual Arts category, sponsored by the Jewish Book Council
Review
"A handsome catalogue."and#8212;Vanity Fair
Synopsis
In "Houdini: Art and Magic," essays on the artist's life and work are accompanied by interviews with novelist E. L. Doctorow, magician Teller (of Penn and Teller), and others, documenting Houdini's evolution and influence from the late 19th century to the present.
About the Author
Brooke Kamin Rapaport is a curator and writer.and#160;and#160;Alan Brinkley is the Allan Nevins Professor of History at Columbia University. and#160;Gabriel de Guzman is Neubauer Family Foundation Curatorial Assistant at The Jewish Museum.and#160; Hasia R.and#160;Diner is Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Professor of American Jewish History at New York University.and#160;and#160;Kenneth Silverman is professor emeritus at New York University.