Prepare to be dazzled by an illustrated romp through the world of illusion, courtesy of the one and only David Copperfield—yes, the guy who can make a whole plane disappear (seriously). This book gives you a backstage pass to the audacious and inventive minds who’ve shaped magic as we know it, all while showcasing the jaw-dropping artifacts from Copperfield's top-secret museum (we’re not telling you where it is, so don’t ask).
Join Copperfield on a personal jaunt through this enchanting art form as he profiles twenty-eight of the most groundbreaking magicians to ever grace the stage. From a 16th-century magistrate who penned the first book on conjuring (imagine the ink stains), to the roaring twenties and the chap who managed to fool Houdini, to the lady who levitated, vanished, and casually caught bullets in her teeth (yep, really), David Copperfield's History of Magic is your ticket to a wild ride through the remarkable feats of history's greatest sorcerers.
These magicians were all outsiders in one way or another, most determined to use their craft to escape the mundane drudgeries of class and convention (who can blame them?). They’ve redefined popular culture, rolled with social changes, figured out the quirks of the human mind, embraced cutting-edge tech, and propelled the art of magic to dizzying heights that would make your head spin.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, you’ll find over 100 exclusive photographs of artifacts from Copperfield's illustrious Museum of Magic. Expect to see a 16th-century manual on sleight of hand, Houdini’s straightjackets and water torture chamber (good luck getting out of that one), Dante’s famous sawing-in-half apparatus, and even some coins that might have belonged to Abraham Lincoln (yes, really).
By the time you close this book, you’ll be all fired up, ready to share Copperfield’s unabashed love for the enchanting power of magic.
