The Royal Road to Card Magic [Paperback]

Jean Hugard (Author), Frederick Braue (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Magic Books | Publication Date: May 27, 1999

With this book, anyone can develop a versatile repertoire of first rate card tricks. The authors, both noted authorities on magic, present complete, easy to understand explanations of basic techniques and over 100 complete tricks. More than 120 line cuts make explanations easy to follow, so that even beginners can develop professional-level skill. 121 figures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; 1 edition (May 27, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486408434
• ISBN-13: 978-0486408439
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Magic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have, August 5, 2000

By 

Wes (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Royal Road to Card Magic (Paperback)

I'm ashamed to admit that this wasn't the first card trick book I ever bought. This book walks you through every amateur sleight of hand any card-magician-to-be could ever hope to learn with a bounty of helpful illustrations, along with very deep text. While some of it is a little difficult to wade through, it is well worth the effort. The tricks, with rare exception, are excellent, and the way in which they are taught is very user-friendly. Instead of teaching seven or eight sleights of hand at once, this book teaches you one, then a few tricks using that sleight. Then it teaches you another, and then some more tricks.

If you're just looking into card magic for the very first time, or are an advanced magician, this book will prove to be both fun and informative - a must have.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome, June 3, 2005

By 

Rumpelzstilzchen "Rumpelstilzchen" (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Royal Road to Card Magic (Paperback)

This is without a doubt the best introduction on card magic on planet earth. Period. The only one that might rank close is the Card College by swiss card conjurer Roberto Giobbi, which is however somewhat a dry read. And much too expensive since he takes the material of "A royal road to Card magic" and "Expert Card Techniques" and turns it into five volumes which are selling at 35 bucks each (I am not accusing him of a rehash but he also didnt re-invent card magic) . These ones have been written in the fourties...and have an incredible charm to them. I wouldnt even call the writing dated, I am from Germany and my English is pretty good, but not perfect, but I find it extremely easy to follow the instructions.

What I love about the book. I have been interested in card magic since I was a boy and have only recently picked up this hobby again, and even though I am probably already familiar with every slight dealt with in this book, it kind of fills in the gaps. For example, even though I know of course how to control a card using a simple overhand shuffle, I was never really able - or even aware of - a false overhand shuffle. I mean a shuffle that looks genuine (not just "running" the cards one by one) and 100 percent deceptive. I am kind of an indermediate, you see. And then this book made me think: well, maybe not even just yet.

Didactically the book is brilliant. For starters, it does not torture you with slights only, but every chapter will already introduce three or four tricks that go with the slight in question, and Hugard and Braue have made sure that they are worth -while. I have found some real gems here. Which really surprised me. I mean, the more one deals with the subject, the more one tends to me focusing on real crazy stuff, like card so saltshaker, tear and restore a card....routines like that, which make you forget there are "normal" tricks out there. DVDs on the subject are floading the market and there is some great stuff. Here, however, a solid foundation is laid, that you will benefit from for the rest of your life. I could write on forever. I think this is just IT. Some teaching DVDs are great, but NONE offer the array of slights and the encouraging style and tone of this book (Except maybe for "Daryls Encyclopedia of Card slights", which will however confuse the beginner). "Some of the finest tricks", as they say, will be at your fingertips soon. They keep it as simple as possible. One more thing, there are no knuckle busters here. Just the basics. But ALL of them.

1. The Overhand Shuffle
2. The Riffle Shuffle
3. Flourishes
4. The Glide
5. The Glimpse
6. The key card
7. The palm
8. The back slip
9. Overhand Shuffle Part Two
10. False Shuffles and Cuts
11. Double Lift and Turnover
12. The Pass
13. Miscalleneous Flourishes
14. The Reverses
15. Hindu Shuffles and other Controls
16. The classic Force
17. Top and bottom changes
18. Arrangements
19. Routines
20. Platform Tricks

Again, the introduce the slights in an order that makes sense and in each chapter there are already tricks that go with the slight. You will be performing magic within...well, day one, lets say. Buy this if you love card magic and wish to go beyond the proverbial Uncle Charlie Card trick ("in which row is your card"), for this is superbe.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My boys and I are just having plain old fun, January 24, 2003

By 

Jerry in Japan (Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Royal Road to Card Magic (Paperback)

Since I bought this book, my boys and I are spending time each night figuring out how to do these cards tricks. My sons are 9 and 13 and I feel childlike too in learning with them. The book is a virtual gold mine, a bit difficult to read, but quite complete for the beginner. We are all having such fun! You will too. Whatever your reason for considering this book, just get it. It is such a worthwhile investment and pays great dividends! You won't be sorry!