Essential Robert-Houdin

Finally back in print!

All the classic works of the great master of magic, Robert-Houdin, under one cover, lavishly illustrated with hundreds of beautiful prints, engravings, and photos. Robert-Houdin (1805-1871) revolutionized the art of magic with his incredible stage mysteries and lifelike automata, and he thankfully left a number of books recording his philosophy and techniques. In Essential Robert-Houdin, you'll find:

The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic:
Considered one of the finest magic books ever, featuring coin sleights and effects; card techniques including palming, false shuffles, cuts, and stacked-deck work, with twenty card effects; Cups and Balls methods and routines; stage effects including the the Linking Rings, and Robert-Houdin's performance theories and essays on gimmicks, stagecraft, and psychology.

Card-Sharping Exposed:
Robert-Houdin's pioneering work on card handling, with dozens of card techniques and routines. The Secrets of Stage Conjuring: A dozen great stage pieces plus the inside techniques of Robert-Houdin's theatre and optical theories.

The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin:
The most complete version of Robert-Houdin's wonderful autobiography ever published, with material previously omitted from earlier editions. You can now enjoy the complete work that Robert-Houdin envisioned.

The Priory:
The unbelievable secrets of Robert-Houdin's automated house, with remote-control gates and automatic timers.

Plus selections from Robert-Houdin's never-before-translated scientific writings, a complete bibliography, and full index.

Pages 664 - Hardbound
Over 350 illustrations

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REVIEW BY NING of THE LITTLE MAGIC SHOP
Essential Robert-Houdin: Book Review

Here's what you get:

A fantastically delicious heavy tome on Robert-Houdin in perfect-bound hardcover! There's over 600 pages on the master magician himself and I simply couldn't take my hands and eyes off it since my book came in *sheepish grin* Robert-Houdin has always been a mystery to me and one of my all time favorite magicians. He is afterall, hailed as the Father of Modern Magic!!!

Essential Robert-Houdin is an excellent combination of all his previous works, so you get the complete classics in one very yummy book! :lol: The first part of the book reveals Robert-Houdin's own techniques in parlor and close-up work, and besides card and coin magic, there's also wonderful bits in there that discuss extensively on the classic cups & balls routine, as well as, the linking rings! Also shared are Robert-Houdin's performance theories and his treasured essays on gimmicks, stagecraft, and psychology.

Cardicians amongst us would be extremely pleased with Robert-Houdin's card-sharping segment where he exposes the secrets on his pioneering work in professional card handling. Many techniques and routines are shared. My personal favourite bit was the section on the secrets of stage conjuring ^_^ There's about a dozen wonderful stage pieces plus the inside techniques of his theatre and optical theories.

The man is not just a magician, he's a science wizard and genius!

Now this is what's great about it:

There are so many beautiful and authentic illustrations (over 300!) packed in Essential Robert-Houdin and it is so obvious that the entire project was put together with lots of TLC! ^_^ Well researched and put together, it is very professionally done! This will take you a bit to digest but you will savor each chapter!

For me, I especially loved the section of Robert-Houdin's memoirs... it is an understatement to call it a wonderful autobiography, and there's such splendid material in there! It was really awesome. There was one bit in there where Robert-Houdin shared his own personal experience with stage fright. Basically whatever could have gone wrong did... just before his performance was slated to begin, Robert-Houdin jumped when he realised that he'd left out a very important stage prop. He rushed to get it but in the frenzied process, injured himself backstage when he carelessly fell into a jagged plank hole that was left uncovered. His entire leg was cut and bleeding, with his trousers leg torn and needless to say, Robert-Houdin felt panick... and well, the rest of the chapter talks about how he handled his stage fright and went on to perform later to a mesmerised audience who gave thunderous applause.

It's all very inspiring really. I can almost hear his gentle, still voice as I read his memoirs... Robert-Houdin said "Courage. Courage." ...And yes, it's something all of us needs when we step up on the pedestal to do our show :) It's very touching stuff and I'm sure will be an inspiring to the rest of you guys who perform too.

The Priory, is also one of my favourite sections in the book... if any of you like scientific stuff, how stuff works, you'll enjoy lapping up the secrets of Robert-Houdin's automated house, remote-control gates, automatic timers, etc. This genius truly has incredible talent and brains!!! :lol:

By the way, if any of you guys watched the recent film on two feuding magicians, THE PRESTIGE, you would have seen Christian Bale's character THE PROFESSOR (which everyone knows in reality, that can only point to master magician, Dai Vernon) and Hugh Jackman's character THE GREAT DANTON, which may be a take on Robert-Houdin's peer, Dante the Great, who also lived in the 1800s... it's just my suspicious, since the filmmakers used these names quite loosely. But anyways, it's just something I'd like to point out since I found Dante's name in the book *grin* AND! A very interesting fishbowl production for stage is also included in Essential Robert-Houdin... it's not the same method as featured in The Prestige, but just a bit of interesting trivia for you there!!! *LOL* :lol:

So, in a nutshell:

If you're a serious student of magic, an admirer or Robert-Houdin, or a book collector, Essential Robert-Houdin is definately for you! It's a wonderful thing and I'm so glad it's back in print and improved... I just had to grab a copy :P I'm sure many of you have heard or read stories about him; how he was engaged to stop a war, and even invited professionally by law enforces to check playing cards used by gambling houses, etc. Get the book now, and get the facts. You'll enjoy the process... this is already one of my favorite books of all time. It's simply worth the investment!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Cheers,
Ning ^_^

Dealers can purchase this directly from Murphy’s Magic Supplies, Inc. www.murphysmagicsupplies.com