The latest issue of Genii is now available online and in your mailbox. Join us at www.geniimagazine.com

Genii’s cover story this month is an excerpt from The Secret History of Magic: The True Story of the Deceptive Art, a new book on the history of magic by Peter Lamont and Jim Steinmeyer. Magicians will find the chapter on Robert-Houdin particularly interesting, and we’re pleased to bring it to you!

For his second “Notizen” column, Alexander de Cova brings us a tribute to René Lavand in the form of a one-handed Ace cutting routine. Before you turn away, let me add that it has no sleight of hand, but will fool magicians and laymen alike.

I continue to publish the late Bob Read’s musings about our strange world in “Hidden Treasures.”

Mike Caveney dissects a letter from Raymond to Will Rock, and we get a history lesson in “Classic Correspondence.”

Martin Lewis reveals himself to be a devious mentalist in “Making Magic.”

John Bannon says “Deal with It” and find a mate.

Todd Karr digs for nuggets of news in “The Eye.”

Jason Davidson talks to some folks at the place on the hill in “Knights at The Magic Castle.”

Jon Racherbaumer reads some fancy books in “On the Slant.”

Reviews of the latest books, videos, and tricks are by Tom Frame, Nathan Coe Marsh, and Danny Orleans.

We have videos to go with the routines by Alexander de Cova and John Bannon, plus John Guastaferro’s Video Magicana. In addition we have audio columns by Jon Racherbaumer and John Lovick at the top of p.11 as well as my own monthly Genii Speaks video.