David Copperfield’s History of Magic is comprised of a series of essays that discuss important themes, illusions, and magicians within the context of select artifacts from The International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, David Copperfield’s private collection.

The book begins with an essay on the 16th century book, The Discoverie of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot, and concludes with a discussion of some of David Copperfield’s own illusions, including The Death Saw. Almost the entire book focuses on the 19th and 20th centuries.

It covers a wide range of fascinating topics including: automatons, levitation, card sharps, mentalists, and the evolution of cutting people in half. It analyzes the work of well-known names like Harry Houdini and Doug Henning; it also introduces readers to the amazing feats and careers of a number of largely forgotten artists like Buatier de Kolta, Adelaide Herrmann, and Chung Ling Soo.

Great magicians never reveal their secrets, and David Copperfield (arguably the greatest of them all) is no exception. Those looking to uncover the back stage secrets behind popular illusions will be disappointed. However, those looking for an engaging read about the history of illusions and illusionists will be more than satisfied.

There are a few typographical errors that mar this otherwise delightful book. For example, “Blackstone’s ashes were interned at the cemetery.” rather than the correct word ‘interred’. Conscientious publishers/editors should not be letting sloppy mistakes like this get by, but they increasingly do. Do they just not care, or are they just so illiterate themselves they are incapable of catching incoherent sentences and misused words? I wonder.

Nevertheless, this is a thoroughly fun, informative, and entertaining read that will appeal to general audiences. It should also be of particular interest to David Copperfield fans, fans of magic, vaudeville/music hall enthusiasts, curators, and archivists.

It is a difficult book to put down! ( )

Prestidigitation! Illusion! Conjurors! The incomparable Harry Houdini! David Copperfield!
This book is mainly written by a man who loves his art/craft and wants the generations to know how much harder it was for his precursors to wow the public in the times before the digital age and CGI. He has an extensive library of the history, performance and secrets of magical performances as well as the devices used by the great ones as purchased and even donated by families of them. There are photographs and drawings of original artifacts and stories of the precursors in this field. GREAT!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )