Houdini

The Elusive American

By: Adam Begley

Narrated by: Barry Abrams

From the prize-winning Jewish Lives series, an exuberant biography of the world's greatest escape artist.

In 1916, the war in Europe having prevented a tour abroad, Harry Houdini wrote a film treatment for a rollicking motion picture. Though the movie was never made, its title, The Marvelous Adventures of Houdini: The Justly Celebrated Elusive American, provides a succinct summary of the Master Mystifier's life.

Born Erik Weisz in Budapest in 1874, Houdini grew up an impoverished Jewish immigrant in the Midwest and became world-famous thanks to talent, industry, and ferocious determination. He concealed as a matter of temperament and professional ethics the secrets of his sensational success.

Nobody knows how Houdini performed some of his dazzling, death-defying tricks, and nobody knows, finally, why he felt compelled to punish and imprison himself over and over again. Tracking the restless Houdini's wide-ranging exploits, acclaimed biographer Adam Begley tells the story of a mystifying man's astonishing career.

©2020 Adam Begley (P)2020 Tantor

More than just an Escape Artist

lots of great information. I went in thinking I already knee who he was. I was very wrong Houdini accomplished much more in his life than just being dubbed “the handcuff king”. I highly recommend this story.

Finally, A Clear And Unvarnished Story.

I’ve read many books and stories of Houdini. This telling is the most honest and least embellished that I’ve come across. Straightforward and fascinating. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout.