Jarrow,
Gail. Harry
Keller: Great American Magician. Boyd's Mills/Calkins Creek 96p $17.95 978-1-59078-865-3 ms/hs VG-BN
This is a biography of Harry Kellar, Harry Houdini’s mentor and idol. Kellar
is largely unknown to young readers, although the
magician/illusionist was the most internationally well-known practitioner of
the magical arts at the turn of the twentieth century, and even though he was the inspiration
for L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz.
Jarrow follows Kellar’s career from his youth as a magician’s assistant,
traveling throughout the United States during the Civil War, to his
achievements as an international superstar, entertaining royalty and presidents
on multiple continents.
In addition to introducing today’s readers to a fascinating personality, Jarrow explores the science behind Kellar’s illusions, explains the nineteenth-century entertainment industry, and provides a history of magic, spiritualism, and seances. The very readable text is accompanied by lavish illustrations in an engaging layout. Fans of magic, sleight of hand, and illusion -- as well as escape artists -- will snap up this volume. -- Hilary Welliver
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