David Copperfield's History of Magic

An illustrated, illuminating insight into the world of illusion from the worlds greatest and most successful magician, capturing its audacious and inventive practitioners, and showcasing the art forms most famous artifacts housed at David Copperfields secret museum. In this personal journey through a unique and remarkable performing art, David Copperfield profiles twenty-eight of the worlds most groundbreaking magicians. From the 16th-century magistrate who wrote the first book on conjuring to the roaring twenties and the man who fooled Houdini, to the woman who levitated, vanished, and caught bullets in her teeth, David Copperfields History of Magic takes you on a wild journey through the remarkable feats of the greatest magicians in history. These magicians were all outsiders in their own way, many of them determined to use magic to escape the strictures of class and convention. But they all transformed popular culture, adapted to social change, discovered the inner workings of the human mind, embraced the latest technological and scientific discoveries, and took the art of magic to unprecedented heights. The incredible stories are complimented by over 100 never-before-seen photographs of artifacts from Copperfields exclusive Museum of Magic, including a 16th-century manual on sleight of hand, Houdinis straightjackets, handcuffs, and water torture chamber, Dantes famous sawing-in-half apparatus, Alexanders high-tech turban that allowed him to read peoples minds, and even some coins that may have magically passed through the hands of Abraham Lincoln. By the end of the book, youll be sure to share Copperfields passion for the power of magic.