The Magician And the Cardsharp The Search for America's Greatest Sleight-of-hand Artist (Paperback)
| Author: Karl Johnson |
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Product Details:
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
ISBN-10: 0805080597
ISBN-13: 9780805080599
Sku: 202081582
Publish Date: 4/10/2007
Dimensions:
(in Inches) 9H x 6L x 1T
Pages:
349
Age Range:
NA
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| A famous magician's journey to find the greatest cardsharp ever evokes the forgotten world of magic where Americans found escape during the Great Depression It has the nostalgic quality of an old-fashioned fable, but Karl Johnson's "The Magician and the Cardsharp is a true story that lovingly re-creates the sparkle of a vanished world. Here, set against the backdrop of America struggling through the Depression, is the world of magic, a realm of stars, sleight of hand, and sin where dreams could be realized-or stolen away. Following the Crash of '29, Dai Vernon, known by magicians as "the man who fooled Houdini," is tramping down Midwestern backroads, barely making ends meet. While swapping secrets with a Mexican gambler, he hears of a guy he doesn't quite believe is real-a legendary mystery man who deals perfectly from the center of the deck and who locals call the greatest cardsharp of all time. Determined to find the reclusive genius, Vernon sets out on a journey through America's shady, slick, and sinful side-from mob-run Kansas City through railroad towns that looked sleepy only in the daytime. Does he find the sharp? Well, Karl Johnson did-after years of research into Vernon's colorful quest, research that led him to places he never knew existed. Johnson takes us to the cardsharp's doorstep and shows us how he bestowed on Vernon the greatest secret in magic. "The Magician and the Cardsharp is a unique and endlessly entertaining piece of history that reveals the artistry and obsession of a special breed of American showmen. |
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From the Publisher:
Set against the backdrop of Depression-era America, a fascinating biography traces the efforts of famed magician Dai Vernon, who wandered the backroads and shady underworld of the Midwest in search of a mysterious, legendary cardsharp. Reprint. 20,000 first printing. |
Praise
Entertainment Weekly
"Johnson details exciting anecdotes of scams, hoaxes, and instances of conjuring...using slang that is clearly explained for lay readers. His stories unfold like magic, with a constant flow of information and surprise endings...." 08/12/2005
"Johnson details exciting anecdotes of scams, hoaxes, and instances of conjuring...using slang that is clearly explained for lay readers. His stories unfold like magic, with a constant flow of information and surprise endings...." 08/12/2005
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