{"product_id":"the-magic-book-9783836574167","title":"The Magic Book","description":"\u003cp\u003eMagic has enchanted humankind for millennia, evoking terror, laughter, shock, and amazement. Once persecuted as heretics and sorcerers, \u003cstrong\u003emagicians have always been conduits to a parallel universe of limitless possibility\u003c\/strong\u003e--whether invoking spirits, reading minds, or inverting the laws of nature by sleight of hand. Long before science fiction, virtual realities, video games, and the Internet, the craft of magic was \u003cstrong\u003ethe most powerful fantasy world man had ever known\u003c\/strong\u003e. As \u003cstrong\u003ethe pioneers of special effects\u003c\/strong\u003e throughout history, magicians have never ceased to mystify us by making the impossible possible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This book celebrates more than 500 years of the stunning visual culture of the world's greatest magicians. \u003cstrong\u003eFeaturing more than 750 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs, handbills, and engravings\u003c\/strong\u003e as well as paintings by Hieronymus Bosch and Bruegel among others, \u003cem\u003eThe Magic Book\u003c\/em\u003e traces \u003cstrong\u003ethe history of magic as a performing art\u003c\/strong\u003e from the 1400s to the 1950s. Combining sensational images with incisive text, the book explores the evolution of the magicians' craft, from medieval street performers to the brilliant stage magicians who gave rise to cinematic special effects; from the 19th century's golden age of magic to groundbreaking daredevils like Houdini and the early 20th century's vaudevillians.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCaveney, Mike:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Mike Caveney is a writer, collector, professional magician, and the publisher of over 50 books on the theory, practice, and history of magic. His biographical works include Kellar's Wonders (2003) with Bill Miesel, and Carter the Great (1995). An avid collector and performer for over four decades, he has appeared onstage or on TV in more than 20 countries.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSteinmeyer, Jim:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Jim Steinmeyer is the author of many books on magic history and practice, including Los Angeles Times best seller Hiding the Elephant (2004) and The Glorious Deception (2006). He has created deceptions featured by magicians such as Doug Henning, David Copperfield, and Siegfried and Roy, and critically acclaimed illusions for Broadway hits Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and Into the Woods.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDaniel, Noel:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Noel Daniel is a graduate of Princeton University and a former Fulbright Scholar to Berlin. Her TASCHEN publications include TATTOO 1730s-1950s, Kay Nielsen's A Thousand and One Nights and East of the Sun and West of the Moon, The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Wintertime Tales, Magic, and The Circus.\u003cbr\u003eEt al...\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Taschen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50634947985682,"sku":"9783836574167","price":28.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_02cb07c4-4eaa-419b-ac36-076cf10ff879.jpg?v=1744219655","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-magic-book-9783836574167","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}