The life and afterlife of Harry Houdini

Summary: Joe Posnanski explores Harry Houdini's impact on global culture and the reasons his legacy endures to this day.

Record details

ISBN: 9781501137235
ISBN: 1501137239
ISBN: 9781501137259
Physical Description: print
xv, 316 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Edition: First Avid Reader Press hardcover edition.
Publisher: New York : Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2019.
Copyright: ©2019

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 313-316).

Formatted Contents Note:

Los Angeles, November 30, 1915 -- The truest believer -- Childhood. Lies and illusions ; The origin story ; The Silverman boxes ; The runaway child ; Bahl Yahn, the strong man -- Metamorphosis. Torrini ; The name ; The early days ; Acid on the dress ; Sideshow ; King of cards ; Magic made easy -- Escape. Beck ; Naked ambition ; Scotland yard ; Not a love match ; The fight of Cologne -- Mirrors. The mirror cuffs ; How he did it (theory one) ; How he did it (theory two) ; How he did it (theories galore) ; My guess -- Miracles. The needles ; The challenges ; Straitjackets ; The bells of the Kremlin ; Life and death -- Copperfield. Epic rap battle I ; Korby's clothing store ; Elephants and statues ; Epic rap battle II -- Torture. Nothing supernatural ; Houdini upside down ; The empathy of escape ; The secret -- Inescapable death. The dutiful son ; Spirits of the night ; The punch ; The end -- The afterlife. There is no death ; The grim game ; The unmasking ; Afterword: Houdini's ghost.