1 Magic History: An Introduction

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Illustrations vii
4. Acknowledgments ix
5. 1 Magic History: An Introduction 1
6. 2 Enchantment and Loss: Theorizing Secular Magic 43
7. 3 Egg-Bag Tricks and Electricity: The Founding of Modern Commercial Conjuring 74
8. 4 Magic’s Moment: The Illusion Business 107
9. 5 From Magic to Film 135
10. 6 Magic and Literature 178
11. 7 Magic Places: The Lyceum and the Great Room, Spring Gardens 215
12. 8 Spiritualism and the Birth of Optical Technologies 259
13. Notes 289
14. Index 327