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1976. Victorian Magic by Geoffrey Lamb

1976, Routledge & Kegan Paul, hbk

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• Victorian Magic by Geoffrey Lamb [top]
  First published in 1976 by Routledge & Kegan Paul in hardcover with dustjacket, 136pp, ISBN 0710084536. Original UK retail price: £4.95 net
  Illustrated with 48 drawings & plates (black & white)

About this book/synopsis: The reign of Queen Victoria saw the rise of many different colourful magicians; in fact, conjuring was something the Queen enjoyed. Prior to the 19th Century, it couldn't have been more different - magicians came low in on the social scale and were largely confined to performing on fairgrounds. At the end of the century, it was very different - they were performing in some of the finest theatres and private houses in the land including Buckingham Palace and Balmoral, where the Queen was entertained by many conjurers of all nationalities.

The author brings the Victorian era to life with lavishly illustrated stories of the spectacular leading magicians, conjurers, illusionists, escapologists, scientific experimenters and tricksters. He describes the kind of people they were and the kind of things they did, keeping the mystery surrounding many of their feats intact. The magic world of that time was represented by some very outstanding figures: Professor Anderson, 'Wizard of the North', who was also an accomplished showman; sadly he was well known for another reason - he lost two great theatres (including Covent Garden) and all his apparatus by fire.

There was also Professor Pepper, whose sensational ghosts appeared all over the world; 'Colonel' Stodare, who in a military sense only ever wielded the sword only in a most dramatic illusion at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly; J. N. Maskelyne, who made the same hall the most famous Theatre of Magic in history; the Davenport brothers, spiritualist escapologists, and their devilish activities; and Charles Bertram, who entertained the Price of Wales (later Edward VII) more than twenty times.

Chapters:
Preface
1. The Wizard of the South
2. The Travelling Showman
3. Magic with a Foreign Accent
4. The Ghost of Regent Street
5. The Men in the Cabinet
6. Egypt in Piccadilly
7. England's Home of Mystery
8. 'Another Man Cut Up Tonight!'
9. The Queen Was Amused
10. Heads and Hartz
11. Society Entertainers
Bibliography; Index