Actual magic – Richard Wiseman

I’ve been eager about magic since I used to be 8 years outdated.  Early on, I grew to become fascinated with the historical past of this unusual performing artwork, and after I was 13 years outdated I wrote a faculty challenge entitled ‘The Artwork And Historical past Of Conjuring’.

One part of this 34-page extravaganza was dedicated to up to date magicians and included the quilt of a magic journal that includes the legendary David Copperfield.

A number of years in the past, I used to be in Las Vegas with my buddy and fellow magician, Massimo Polidoro. We went to see David Copperfield’s wonderful present and he kindly invited us to his secret museum of magic. This gorgeous assortment is housed is a big constructing on the outskirts of Vegas and comprises a jaw dropping assortment of equipment, posters and books. It’s the Smithsonian of magic and explores how magic shapes society, conjures up know-how, and creates a way of marvel.

Because of the nature of the displays, David is simply in a position to present a number of individuals across the museum at anyone time. Afterwards, David and I spoke about producing a ebook that gives readers with a private tour of this magical house. Excited by the thought, we enlisted the assistance of good magician David Britland and wonderful photographer (and co-director of David Copperfield’s exhibits) Homer Liwag. Collectively, we put collectively a pitch doc and have been delighted when Simon and Schuster agreed to publish the ebook. Not solely that, however the great Priscilla Painton agreed to behave as our editor.

Three years on and our imaginative and prescient has change into a actuality. This 270-page shiny ebook is our love letter to magic. Full of Homer’s gorgeous images, it celebrates a bunch of outsiders who deliver a much-needed sense of magic into the world, together with the person who fooled Houdini, the lady who caught bullets in her naked palms, and the illusionist who made himself vanish. Alongside the best way we encounter a sixteenth-century handbook on sleight of hand, gorgeous French automata, and even some cash which might be mentioned to have magically handed via the palms of Abraham Lincoln.

Over forty years in the past, 13 year-old Wiseman write a faculty challenge on magic and referenced David Copperfield. At the moment, I’m honoured to have labored with this legendary performer and co-authored an attractive ebook on the subject. To me, that appears like actual magic.

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