A reissue of Ruth Brandon's definitive biography of Houdini.

When Harry Houdini died in 1926, he was one of the most famous men in the world. Having started out as a vaudeville magician, he soon began to specialise in the escapes for which his name remains a byword. In this classic biography, Ruth Brandon explains in detail the secrets of Houdini's most celebrated escapes, but more importantly she asks, 'What was Houdini really trying to escape from?' - and, searching for the answer, reveals a man far more extraordinary than any of his audience could have imagined.

'A ripping account of shamanism, celebrity and magic' Sunday Times

'Brandon paints a fascinating picture of this complicated and charismatic character, and also of turn-of-the-century America' The Times