Description

An autobiographical history of magic, profusely illustrated with diagrams of magic tricks and photographs of Goldston’s career.

From the foreword by J. C. Cannell:

The exposures he makes range from the most spectacular and elaborate illusions to the smallest pocket trick. His book, indeed, is the alpha and omega of magic. He conceals nothing, hides no secrets.

The careful researches which I had to make in order to tell the public exactly how Houdini achieved his escapes and performed illusions which seemed like miracles, led me to think that I had exhausted all the resources of magic. But, after reading the proofs of this fascinating book, I realized how much I had not known.

ForewordCHAPTER I: The History Of Magic Ancient MagicCHAPTER II: The History Of Magic Medieval MagicCHAPTER III: The History Of Magic Modern MagicA Defence Of ConductMagic And MagiciansCHAPTER IV: Some Specimens Of Modern MagicCHAPTER V: Eastern MagicCHAPTER VI: Mind-Reading MagicCHAPTER VII: Some Famous IllusionsCHAPTER VIII: More Famous IllusionsCHAPTER IX: Tricks Of EscapeCHAPTER X: The Flotsam And Jetsam Of MagicCHAPTER XI: Optical IllusionsCHAPTER XII: My Own TricksCHAPTER XIII: Tricks Of Bogus MediumsCHAPTER XIV: Some Experiments In Ghost HuntingChapter XV: A Miscellany Of Magic Performed By Famous IllusionistsThe Cut And Restored Treasury NoteSherwood’s Coin And Chocolate BoxWet PaintA Trick With Giant CardsA Stage “Spirit” CabinetBertram’s Trick With A Shilling And A Copy Of “Tit-Bits”The Devil’s MirrorAnother Four Ace TrickNested Envelopes And Restored Card TrickStanley Collins’s Magnetic AcesThe “Esscee” Nap Hand DealThe Chung Ling Soo Slate TrickA New Spirit HandThe Return Of DiogenesOwen Clark’s Thought TransmissionProfessor Hoffmann’s Four Aces Trick – Modern VersionsBautier De Kolta’s Three Coins TrickA Good Thought-Reading TrickThe Travelling HandkerchiefCard Production ExtraordinaryWine And WaterThe Swing Of The PendulumChapter XVI: Magical FurnitureChapter XVII: Seven Lessons In Magic For The BeginnerLesson OneLesson TwoLesson ThreeLesson FourLesson FiveLesson SixLesson Seven