Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin (1805-71) is often called the father of modern conjuring. His name was later adopted by magician and escape artist Harry Houdini, whose highly sceptical expose of Victorian spiritualism is also published in this series. The best-known magician of his time, Robert-Houdin toured France, England and Germany, performed for Queen Victoria, and was sent to French Algeria by Napoleon III to demonstrate the perceived superiority of French magic to the local shamans. This book, originally published in 1868, is devoted primarily to coin and card tricks, but Robert-Houdin also describes many other magical tricks and includes a history of conjuring. In 1877 the book appeared in this English translation by Louis Hoffmann (1839-1919). Hoffmann (real name Angelo John Lewis, a barrister) had published his own guide to magic in 1876, and both books caused controversy for revealing the secrets of stage magicians in such unprecedented detail.

HAMPTON DUNES The adventure takes place in Hampton Dunes, a Long Island resort village, much like East Hampton. The novel describes the realization by Gar Barkley, Owner-Editor of the weekly Hampton Gazette that the Mafia has purchased the Wayward Dunes Inn, through local intermediaries. With the help of prominent politicians, they intend to turn the end of Long Island into another Las Vegas. Gar does not get involved until a lady friend, Phyllis Thatcher, returns to town and together they take on this formidable and evil force. The story reaches a shattering climax that includes torture, kidnapping and murder. Along the way, the reader sees a good deal of the Hampton scene - Bobby Van's restaurant, the social crowd at the Meadowland (Maidstone) Club, the townspeople of Hampton Dunes -and how they all react to the invasion of the criminals. As the situation develops, local and summer people alike, have to make fundamental moral decisions - that require courage - about their life-styles, their environment, and their community.

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This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

With An Appendix, Infantile Paralysis In The City Of Seattle By Willis H. Hall.