Houdini: Master of Illusion

Houdini, the name evokes mystery. Houdini, world famous escape artist and magician. But who was Harry Houdini? Born Erich Weiss, he learned magic while working as a photographer's assistant in New York. Soon he and his brother were performing all over town. But Houdini wouldn't settle for just being a magician-he wanted more. He developed new and grander illusions including his most famous trick of all: the Milk Can Escape, in which he was handcuffed and submerged inwater inside a padlocked milk can that was inside a padlocked, iron-bound wodden box. With descriptions of some of Houdini's most amazing tricks-and explanations of how he pulled some of them off-this compelling biography is a fascinating portrait of a man who still symbolizes mystery and magic.