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The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: handcuff king, spirit medium, handcuff act, The Secret Life of Houdini, New York, United States (more...)
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  • This item: The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero by William Kalush

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kalush and Sloman appear to have raked through every known Houdini archive to produce the most comprehensive and controversial biography ever written about the man, with its contention that he was a spy who may have been murdered by a cult."-- Tony Barrell, "London Sunday Times" --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


Review

"Kalush and Sloman appear to have raked through every known Houdini archive to produce the most comprehensive and controversial biography ever written about the man, with its contention that he was a spy who may have been murdered by a cult."-- Tony Barrell, London Sunday Times
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 608 pages
  • Publisher: Atria (October 2, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743272080
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743272087
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #201,468 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Authors

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Larry Sloman
Larry Sloman
William Kalush
William Kalush

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
handcuff king, spirit medium, handcuff act, straitjacket escape, handcuff escapes, phony mediums, aerial league, magic dealer, bell box, ghost box, magic community, magic magazine, own secret service, bridge jumps, séance room, fraudulent mediums
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Secret Life of Houdini, New York, United States, Sir Arthur, Lady Doyle, Conan Doyle, Secret Service, Harry Houdini, Library of Congress, Daisy White, The Challenge of the Mirror, San Francisco, Atlantic City, Rabbi Weiss, Lime Street, Scotland Yard, Fighting Our Way, Leap of Faith, Scientific American, Art Imitates Life, White House, The King of Handcuffs, Los Angeles, Sherlock Holmes, Conjurer's Monthly
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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Spy controversy a distraction from this excellent biography, November 26, 2006
By John Cox (Studio City, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero (Hardcover)
The "Houdini was a spy" aspect of this book - so hyped in the media and debated by magic historians - is a distraction from what should be seen, first and foremost, as a major new Houdini biography loaded with fascinating new facts about the great magician's life and career.

But what of this "spy" thing? Okay. Very quickly - in 1902/3 Houdini sent "reports" from Germany and Russia back to Superintendent Melville of Scotland Yard (who was then head of what could be considered British Intelligence). Does this mean Houdini was a spy, or just a letter writer who felt compelled to report what he was seeing to his friend in London? Authors Bill Kalush and Larry Sloman do make some interesting connections back to America and the shenanigans with Houdini's passport application...but it's all very speculative. For me, this "spy revelation" is just one of many, many new nuggets of information to be found within these fascinating 560 pages...and it's not even the most interesting nugget at that.

I was much more taken with the revelation of Bess Houdini's suicide attempt; a potential third Houdini mistress (Milla Barry); the attack on Houdini's brother in his Harlem home; the Russian Royal family's Rasputian-like fascination with the magician; Montraville M. Wood's involvement in the development of the Milk Can and USD; Lord Northcliff's role in Houdini's aviation career; Houdini's private secret service formed to expose spiritualists (Houdini actually bought a barbershop and trained an agent as a barber so they could communicate incognito); and the very troubling revelation that Margery and Dr. Crandon may have had a hand in the disappearance of several young English boys (freaky stuff this).

I was also thrilled to see Kalush and Sloman incorporate breakthrough information containing in such recent studies as The Man Who Killed Houdini by Don Bell (which rewrites magic history by revealing Houdini suffered not one but TWO stomach punch attacks in his final weeks). And, last but not least, the wealth of never before seen photos contained here are wonderful!

I was surprised to see the inclusion of some stories I've always considered to be apocryphal -- the tale in which Harry, as a boy, frees a convict from a pair of handcuffs is one. But the authors promise that a complete set of source reference notes are forthcoming in a separate volume. (Already some are available online at the Conjuring Arts Research Center website.)

The last major Houdini biography was Ken Silverman's 1996 Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss (now out of print). I still consider the Silverman book the best, most authoritative Houdini biography ever written, as well as the one that seems to best nail his complex character. But Secret Life uncovers many new facts not found in Silverman, and for the layperson it may be the more entertaining and provocative read.

It's been 10 years since Silverman and it was time someone tackled the subject of Houdini again. My congratulations to William Kalush and Larry Sloman for doing so...and succeeding so spectacularly!
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73 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Story! A Must Read., October 31, 2006
This review is from: The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero (Hardcover)
This is simply put a remarkable and groundbreaking historical book on Harry Houdini: world renown magician, mischievous scoundrel, and clever spy. Reading like the best of intriguing novels, authors William Kalush and Larry Sloman have created a masterpiece worthy of every person's library in `The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero'.

This is one of the finest historical prose I have ever read. I can't recommend `The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero' enough. It will be `The' gift I give during the holiday season.

Why am I doing cartwheels?

First off, the extraordinary research put into this work was incredible. The execution and presentation of the material easy to understand and intriguing on its own, yet, the more fact presented, the more material I needed to have. Additionally, by collecting what I take was nearly everything ever written or presented previously on Houdini and viewing it carefully as a whole, Kalush and Sloman actually present to the public the full picture on Harry Houdini: Master of Deception! And what a life it was!

From a humble beginning in Chicago, to entertaining the most prominent individuals in society across the globe, to clearly participating in a spy network, to in his own way, being a pre-Nadar watchdog by going after con-artists pretending to be connected to the supernatural world, Harry Houdini's life was extraordinary . . . and so to was the footprint he made on society, as evident of his acclaim 90 years later. Was Houdini murdered by a cult? What was he getting close to? What threats did he hold?

Overall, this is a brilliant book, and I tip my hat to authors William Kalush and Larry Sloman: superior storytelling readers everywhere will enjoy.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely marvelous book about Houdini!, December 13, 2006
By Patrick Culliton (Hollywood, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero (Hardcover)
There have been a slew of biographies of Houdini from Harold Kellock's 1928 book that was written "from the documents and recollections of Beatrice Houdini" to this most recent one by magic authority Bill Kalush and "Reefer Madness" author Ratso Slocum. I have read them all and can say without reservation that this is my favorite.
I understand the frustration of some readers who complain that the book contains no notes or substantiation of the facts as presented. Like the biography "Houdini, the Career of Ehrich Weiss" by Kenneth Silverman, the research was so voluminous, the notes so extensive, that they require another book to contain them. I very much look forward to this forthcoming book of notes, but, the lack of footnoting in this book doesn't bother me. What was it John Barrymore said to describe his dislike of footnotes? (He felt that footnotes got in the way of a good read). I think he said, "It's like having to run downstairs to answer the doorbell on one's wedding night."
The research that the authors did in preparation for this book was simply enormous. When the book of notes comes out, that will become clear. Still, I commiserate with readers who would like the biography and the notes to be contained in a single volume but, believe me, that would be one thick book.
There are several examples of "invented" dialogue that has bothered some Houdini authorities. I can state that even these will have some substantiation in the mountain of documents that will be contained in the next volume.
I wonder how many of the "Houdini experts" who question the veracity of this book have ever heard of the Hungarian escape artist called Hanelo? Or one named Steen? Or Rex Palmer Gordon? Well, I hadn't until I read this book and this is Culliton speaking.
Any mistakes? Well, a photo of Houdini's leading lady Ann Forrest is misidentified as Gloria Swanson which should be corrected before the paperback comes out, but, while there are other points of view on some matters discussed in the book, the authors have done their homework and there is background for their assertions.
Then there are Houdini insiders I knew about but that most of the other biographers missed: Dr. Waite, for one example. Or Montraville Wood for another. It cheered my heart when these guys picked up on them, and many, many others. Gertude Hills, John Hanauer, Ormer Locklear. . . I could go on and on.
Is the book 100% accurate? Probably not, due to its subject. As Silverman pointed out in an interview, (I'm probably paraphrasing slightly) "In most life histories there are three different versions of any event. In Houdini's life, there are at least ten." It has become every Houdini biographer's task to choose which story rings truest.
As to the book's contention that Houdini did secret work for at least two governments, I believe it, and I believe the first two passport applications Houdini made (as discussed in the book) constitute the smoking gun.
Is this book the last word on Houdini? Uh uh! No one will ever write the last word on Houdini (after all, he's Houdini) but I love this book and I unreservedly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars I will never again hear the word ECTOPLASM...
...without thinking of this book.

I am not a "Houdiniphile." I really knew very little about him other than the fact that he was perhaps the greatest escape artist of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jonathan Sabin

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but Disjointed
This wasn't the "can't put it down" type of read for me. It was interesting and sometimes fascinating to learn about the life of Houdini--for instance, I had no idea that he had... Read more
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5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book!
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Published 3 months ago by True Crime Reader

3.0 out of 5 stars A solid, if flawed, account of a great man's life.
Honestly, this is the only book on Harry Houdini most people will ever need. This tome covers his ancestry and birth in Hungary as Ehrich Weiss, his family's emigration to the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Tony H

2.0 out of 5 stars The book that could have been.......
This book had the potential of being something great. A real full study into Houdini's live was more than over due. The research appeared to be there. Read more
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5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all
This book is very well researched and written, by far the most informative and enjoyable to read. The authors have taken the time and care to present to the world our first true... Read more
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4.0 out of 5 stars A Man and Myth
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Published 12 months ago by Bruce Roderick

4.0 out of 5 stars A good biography once you skip the hype

The subtitle "The making of America's first superhero" really doesn't hold up very well. I would say George Washington or Daniel Boone fit that bill long before Houdini was... Read more
Published 14 months ago by J. Carroll

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Biography Filled With Intrigue
This book must be ranked as the best biography on Houdini. It is so well written that I literally could not put it down. Read more
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A stirring account of Harry Houdini not only as a great magician but as a great human being. Should be read by all those who aspire to be the best that they can be amidst the... Read more
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