Miracle Mongers and Their Methods: A Complete Expose of the Modus Operandi of Fire Eaters, Heat Resisters, Poison Eaters, Venomous Reptile Defiers, Sword Swallowers, Human Ostriches, Strong Men, Etc ( - Hardcover

Harry Houdini

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 033146764X ISBN 13: 9780331467642

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

A clear-eyed look at illusion, science, and the men and women who blurred the line between magic and reality.

This book investigates how fire-eaters, strongmen, and showmen captured public imagination, and how careful observation, physics, and psychology reveal the tricks behind the feats.

The pages skim the history of miracle workers from the Middle Ages to “the dime museums,” showing how performers used devices, routines, and audience misdirection to amaze crowds. It pairs vivid examples with practical explanations, so readers can separate spectacle from science without spoiling the sense of wonder.

• How early fire performances evolved and why audiences believed in transformations
• The practical science behind heat resistance, spheroidal liquids, and related marvels
• Methods behind famous demonstrations, including strength stunts and stage illusions
• Context for the era’s shows, gadgets, and the showman’s craft

Ideal for readers who enjoy the history of magic, performance, and the science that explains what looks miraculous.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 033146764X
• ISBN 13: 9780331467642
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 261