Modern Magic
Modern Magic by Professor Hoffmann (real name Angelo Lewis) is a treatise in book form, first published in 1876, detailing the apparatus, methods and tricks used by the magicians and conjurors of that era. Hoffmann was considered to be one of the greatest authorities on the theory and practice of magic, despite his own limited professional experience as a magician.[1]
Author | Professor Hoffmann |
---|---|
Published | 1876 |
The Modern Magic book series
Professor Hoffman imparted much of his wisdom and expertise in the art of magic through a series of four books:[2]
- Modern Magic (48 articles, first serialized in Routledge's Every Boy's Paper, and then published as one volume, in 1876.)
- More Magic (1890)
- Later Magic (1903)
- Latest Magic (1918)
Of the series, Modern Magic is best known. The book contains advice on the appearance, the dress and the staging of a magician. It then goes on to describe many tricks with playing cards, coins, watches, rings, handkerchiefs, dominoes, dice, cups and balls, balls, and hats, and concludes with a long chapter of miscellaneous tricks, including magic with strings, gloves, eggs, rice and some utility devices. The penultimate chapter describes large stage illusions, and the final chapter contains advice on routining a magic show, and more advice on staging.[3]
Its popularity is due in part to the scarcity of teaching materials available to would-be magicians in the late 19th century.[4] Modern Magic was the first book in the English language to really explain how to perform magical feats.[5]
See also
References
- Hocus Pocus by Paul Kieve
- H. Adrian Smith - "Hoffmann's Five Foot Shelf of Magic", Tops Magazine, Vol. 1, no. 12, Dec. 1936, p. 47.
- Modern Magic by Professor Hoffmann (edn: 17)
- Modern Magic by Professor Hoffmann (edn:17)
- MagicNook - Hoffmann Books. Accessed 2015-07-21
External links
- Professor Hoffmann at MagicPedia
- Books by Professor Hoffmann
- Modern Magic online at Google Books
- Modern Magic; a Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring From the Harry Houdini Collection in the Rare Book and Special Collection Division at the Library of Congress
- Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring public domain audiobook at LibriVox