A friend gave it to me years ago. I figured eventually I had to read it, like you do. On page 67 I threw it at the wall. It's about magic, which is not very interesting to read about. Or to see for that matter. Magic is very annoying - it's not real you know, it's just a lot of tricks. I like it when they chop a person up and have parts of them in boxes spread around the stage - head there, feet way over there - but that's about it.
Likewise with Harry Potter, every one of which I've seen on the big screen with my daughter. A whole lot of firework displays and running about with a few nice monsters. Give me Lord of the Rings any day, at least that has a story along with the creatures.

Gold’s book is loosely based on the life of Charles Carter, a real magician. After reading his Wikipedia page, I appreciate that Gold was more than willing to stretch the historical facts for the amusement of the reader.

The book starts off with the death (murder?) of one of the greatest presidents ever, Warren G. Harding, who could give any president a run for their money in the floozie and corruption departments. Carter is somehow implicated.

Boyhood trauma propels Carter into magic and onto the vaudeville stage and eventually, his own traveling magic show. His involvement with Harding enmeshes him in a deadly conspiracy involving secret societies, the government and big business. There are plenty of real life people who also make an appearance throughout the book including, The Marx Brothers, Houdini and Philo Farnsworth (the inventor of TV).



Like any good illusionist worth his salt, Gold is expert at misdirecting the reader with literary sleight of hand. Seeming unrelated and unremarkable doings are used as diversions only to be of consequence later in the book.

Bonus: How to make an elephant disappear! Revealed!!!

Aside from the pulpy, dashing, derring-do, what made this an interesting read were the “I-wish-I-had-said/written-that-passage and Gold’s talent to take an extraordinary story and build it with relatable, ordinary moments.

Recommended for historical fiction fans or anyone interested in literary wizardry.

A rousing tale of magic, true love, death-defying feats, sinister prestidigitationists, lions, elephants, pirates, the death of a President, and a real-life boy genius, this book reads like the best movie Steven Spielberg never made. Gold deftly combines deep, moving characterization with thrilling and suspenseful plots and a buoyant sense of fun. With a likeable hero, two indelible heroines, and the most wonderfully hissable literary villain in many a moon, this book deserves a place of pride on your bookshelf.

Glen David Gold = Wes Anderson. That's the magic trick!