Harry Houdini

First hitting newsstands in 1923, Weird Tales magazine quickly became a literary monster in discovering and publishing the best horror, sci-fi and fantasy writers of its day. The pulp magazine was one of the earliest publications, if not the first, to feature strange tales of occultism and alien invasions that simply didn't fit into any other magazine at that time. The stories struck a chord with those early audiences, and as a result, Weird Tales created asubgenre as "weird" could be attached itself to various genres. Marquee names like master magician Harry Houdini and cosmic horror creator H.P. Lovecraft graced the magazine's pages during those early years with several debut stories, alongside authors who were already giants in their own right-Otis Adelbert Kline, Seabury Quinn, and Greye La Spina. Maybe lesser known, but no less influential, writers like Frank Belknap Long Jr., Mary S. Brown, Lyllian Huntley Harris, Hasan Vokine, Arthur J. Burks, and H. Warner Munn turned out disturbing yarns that have stood the test of time only to be resurrected nearly a century later. From the macabre and morbid to unexplainable stories of the occult, this collection features those early authors across thirteen tales of terror from the impactful years of 1923 to 1925 that are best enjoyed at the witching hour.Reading ritual aside, you've been warned.

First hitting newsstands in 1923, Weird Tales magazine quickly became a literary monster in discovering and publishing the best horror, sci-fi and fantasy writers of its day. The pulp magazine was one of the earliest publications, if not the first, to feature strange tales of occultism and alien invasions that simply didn't fit into any other magazine at that time. The stories struck a chord with those early audiences, and as a result, Weird Tales created asubgenre as "weird" could be attached itself to various genres. Marquee names like master magician Harry Houdini and cosmic horror creator H.P. Lovecraft graced the magazine's pages during those early years with several debut stories, alongside authors who were already giants in their own right-Otis Adelbert Kline, Seabury Quinn, and Greye La Spina. Maybe lesser known, but no less influential, writers like Frank Belknap Long Jr., Mary S. Brown, Lyllian Huntley Harris, Hasan Vokine, Arthur J. Burks, and H. Warner Munn turned out disturbing yarns that have stood the test of time only to be resurrected nearly a century later. From the macabre and morbid to unexplainable stories of the occult, this collection features those early authors across thirteen tales of terror from the impactful years of 1923 to 1925 that are best enjoyed at the witching hour.Reading ritual aside, you've been warned.

Reproduction of the original: The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin by Harry Houdini

"All wonder," said Samuel Johnson, "is the effect of novelty on ignorance." Yet we are so created that without something to wonder at we should find life scarcely worth living. That fact does not make ignorance bliss, or make it "folly to be wise." For the wisest man never gets beyond the reach of novelty, nor can ever make it his boast that there is nothing he is ignorant of; on the contrary, the wiser he becomes the more clearly he sees how much there is of which he remains in ignorance. The more he knows, the more he will find to wonder at. My professional life has been a constant record of disillusion, and many things that seem wonderful to most men are the everyday commonplaces of my business. But I have never been without some seeming marvel to pique my curiosity and challenge my investigation. In this book I have set down some of the stories of strange folk and unusual performers that I have gathered in many years of such research.Each RADLEY CLASSIC is a meticulously restored, luxurious and faithful reproduction of a classic book; produced with elegant text layout, clarity of presentation, and stylistic features that make reading a true pleasure. Special attention is given to legible fonts and adequate letter sizing, correct line length for readability, generous margins and triple lead (lavish line separation); plus we do not allow any mistakes/changes/ additions to creep into the author's words.Visit RADLEY BOOKS at www.radleybooks.com to see more classic book titles in this series.

It is common knowledge that one of the world's greatest magicians gave himself the stage name of Houdini. He was born as Erik Weisz in Budapest in 1874. He emigrated to the United States of America with his mother and four brothers in 1878. The family changed the spelling of their surname to the German "Weiss" and, in turn, Erik became "Ehrich". In turn that was shortened to "Ehrie" and anglicized to "Harry". According to his boyhood friend, Joseph F Rinn, in his book Sixty Years of Psychical Research, Weiss started his magic career some time in 1889. A couple of years later, in early 1891, he read The Memories of Robert-Houdin, the well known French magician. In part tribute to Robert-Houdin, and because he apparently believed that adding an "i" on the end of a name meant "like" in French, Harry Weiss decided to rename himself Harry Houdini and become a professional magician. The rest, as they say, is history. Unfortunately, the story doesn't end there. Houdini later found out that a number of the effects that Robert-Houdin claimed to have invented were not invented by him at all. This was obviously a crushing blow to Houdini who was now so well known under his chosen stage name that he could not change it. In a personal crusade he researched and wrote his book The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin which he finished on 20th July 1907 and which appeared in print the following year. Bizarrely, the printing in England claims copyright in 1906, 1907 and 1908. The book was dedicated to his father and contains many reproductions of photographs, playbills and illustrations from his own collection. He was very proud of his achievement and, in fairness, it must be said that in the days in which it was written the research and effort that went into its production must have been considerable. Indeed, he offered a prize of $250 if anybody could name "a book which has taken so much time, energy, travel and money, with such authentic data regarding real magical inventions." Despite all the work he had put in even he thought it likely that few people would read the work in its entirety. Indeed, in many copies there is his own handwritten note beseeching the reader to "Please read the introduction at least". Perhaps he thought that those who did so might skate over the rather vicious attacks contained in the rest of the text. It was not to be and the book was roundly castigated by the world of magic, especially in France, the home of Robert-Houdin. It has been suggested that Houdini wrote the book because he was shunned by the family of Robert-Houdin when he made his first tour of Europe. The truth will never be known but it is telling that Houdini later said "The only mistake I made was in calling my book Houdin Unmasked. It ought to have been the History of Magic." There is an element of truth in that statement as the book does contain a great deal of historical research into the illusions and effects of magic. As with other offerings in The Golden Age of Magic series this volume is not a straightforward reproduction of the original text. There are a number of reasons for this. The main one, as with almost all early books, is that the typefaces used frequently make reading a chore rather than a pleasure. There is also the fact that the original printings were poorly edited, resulting in spelling errors and sometimes mistakes which completely alter the meaning of the text. Wherever possible we have endeavoured to reproduce illustrations from the original to the highest possible standard and, in many cases, have been able to improve them. However, you should be aware that some illustrations in the original book were, themselves, copied from documents that were then many years old and some reproductions may not be to present day standards. We have taken the liberty of producing the book to make it both accurate and accessible. We would hope that, were the author alive today, he would very much approve of this edition.

""The Right Way To Do Wrong: An Expose Of Successful Criminals"" is a book written by the renowned magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini, and published in 1906. In this book, Houdini exposes the methods and techniques used by successful criminals of his time, including pickpockets, burglars, and con artists. Through his own experiences and research, Houdini provides an in-depth analysis of the criminal mind and how it operates. He also offers practical advice on how to protect oneself from falling victim to these crimes. The book is divided into several chapters, each focusing on a different type of crime or criminal. Houdini provides detailed descriptions of the various methods used by these criminals, including their tools and techniques, and offers insights into how they are able to evade detection and punishment. Overall, ""The Right Way To Do Wrong"" is a fascinating and informative read for anyone interested in the criminal mind and the history of crime. It is also a unique insight into the mind of one of the most famous magicians and escape artists of all time.This Is A New Release Of The Original 1906 Edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

One of the most intriguing and recognized figures of the twentieth century conducts a masterclass in subversion Part expose, part instruction manual, "The Right Way to Do Wrong" features history's most famous illusionist revealing the methods of deception involved in everything from burglary, to pickpocketing, to swindles, forgery and tricks. Along the way, he also debunks the secrets of his own and other conjurers' tricks, including rope escape methods such as the Russian Transport Tie, instrumental in the famous stunt in which Houdini escaped a Siberian prison truck. Also disclosed are the secrets of fire-eating, sword-swallowing and strongmen. Although remembered more for his spectacular stunts of escapism and magic, Houdini was as clever and nimble a writer as he was a magician, and surprisingly revealing of trade secrets All of which makes "The Right Way to Do Wrong" both the ultimate anti-etiquette guide and proof that things are not always as they seem. ebook ISBN: 978-1-61219-167-6

Elliott's Last Legacy: Secrets Of The King Of All Kard Kings is a book written by James William Elliott. The book is a comprehensive guide to card tricks, techniques, and secrets that have been passed down from the author's grandfather, who was known as the ""King of All Kard Kings"". The book provides readers with step-by-step instructions on how to perform over 50 different card tricks, including classics like the ""Four Aces Trick"" and the ""Ambitious Card"". The book also includes tips on how to develop a magician's stage presence and how to engage with an audience. In addition to the practical advice and instructions, the book also delves into the history of card magic and the life of the author's grandfather, providing readers with a fascinating insight into the world of magic. Overall, Elliott's Last Legacy is an essential read for anyone interested in learning the art of card magic and the secrets of one of the greatest card magicians of all time.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

On Deception presents the highlights of Houdini's writings on illusions, revealing him to have been a remarkably prescient champion of rationalism and an ardent opponent of the duping of susceptible individuals. Throughout his life, the world's most famous escapologist strove to expose the methods and tricks of illusionists and sham spiritualists. Studying entertainers and criminals alike, Houdini investigates the tricks of the mind and sleights of hand that have deceived people throughout history. The magician's writings caused a public sensation; legend has it that The Right Way to do Wrong was bought in bulk by burglars in an attempt to guard the tricks of their trade. This collection also includes Houdini's revelations about the methods behind some of his own most famous tricks, and articles he wrote to expose his imitators, demonstrating him to be unarguably the master of his craft.