Peter Lamont (1)

“The Secret History of Magic” by Peter Lamont and Jim Steinmeyer begins by proving that our ancestors “were not as gullible" as we thought. Magicians, tricksters or conjurers weren't persecuted for heresy or witchcraft. There were plenty of street performers, jugglers and court jesters. The original “Hocus Pocus” himself, William Vincent, performed for the court of King James I. It’s a big misconception that’s still being taught, thanks to a single misinterpretation of Reginald Scot’s “The Discoverie of Witchcraft."

The 18th c. seems to be where the modern magic show emerges. Isaac Hawkes was among the first to use automata in his performances, “an apple tree who bore ripe apples in less than a minute." It was also the Age of Science, so many magicians incorporated electricity and magnetism into their acts. Nicolas Ledru, Mr. Jonas, Gustavo Katterfelto, Giuseppe Pinetti and Philip Breslaw among them. In the 19th c. The Great Wizard of the North, John Henry Anderson, pioneers the classic “pulling a rabbit from a hat." The expansion of the British Empire also introduced “Indian” and “Oriental” magic with “exotic” costumes and words to mystify the audience. The Basket Trick makes its appearance at this time. But Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin made his mark by using his skills as a watchmaker to build elaborate mechanical sets. We also see the rise of Spiritualism thus "spirits” performed tricks, esp. through the Davenport Bros. The Golden Age ends with Alexander Herrmann, making way for P.T. Selbit, Howard Thurston and Harry Houdini. Later, Doug Henning and David Copperfield adapted magic successfully to TV. Magic has come a long way, but our love for a good trick has never vanished.

My only issue with this book was with the editing. Portions are messy with redundancy issues. What’s more, the authors use the word “nevertheless” noticeably often, even in places where it isn’t needed or used correctly. But overall an enjoyable read.… (mehr)

I don't think I've ever laughed out loud so many times reading the front matter of a history book. Peter Lamont is witty as hell.

His history of the Indian rope trick traces the modern legend from its 19th-century origins through various 20th-century controversies, and also offers an epilogue-cum-travelogue which brings the subject into the present. Along the way, he offers a wild assortment of historical tidbits, including Charles Dickens' turn as an Orientalized performing conjuror, the origins of the pay toilet, and Chicago newspaper wars. He also highlights the contexts provided by stage magicians' guilds, the Society for Psychical Research, and the Theosophical Society, as well as the overarching dynamics of Western disenchantment and the British Empire.

The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick is a very fast and enjoyable read. Lamont's attitude toward his historical subjects is strongly skeptical, but richly humane. I recommend the book to anyone with an interest in its topics: the history of magical performance, modern rumors and controversies, and the Western appropriation of Asian culture.… (mehr)