I'm going to do a big history paper for school on the Golden Age of Magic in the early 1900s and its impact on popular culture during that time period. Are there any recommendations for books that don't have many tricks, and focus on the history of magic? I already have Ricky Jay's Journal of Anomalies, and this is the type of book I'm looking for. Thanks!

I would recommend "Hiding the Elephant" by Jim Steinmeyer. It is a very good read. Another which deals with some personalities is "Phantoms at the Card Table" by which deal with Walter Irving Scott who was an excellant card worker and some history of the card workers of his time. It's by Britland and Gazzo. I've read both and recommend them to all.

Bruce

Check out the Learned Pig website..if your a member ( its free ) it has a ton of history on magic

Christopher, Milbourne: The Illustrated History of Magic
Christopher, Milbourne: Magic - A Picture Histoy
Clark, Sidney: The Annals of Conjuring
Randi, James: Conjuring

As Uli mentioned, Milbourne Christopher's "Illustrated History of Magic" is ideal. David Blaine's "Mysterious Stranger" has a bunch of history thrown in there. "Houdini On Magic" offers up some insight of the history.

Also, PBS came out with a video special about magic and the history and techniques. My library has it, so yours may, too.

Otherwise, just go to the library and browse the magic section. The libraries that I've been to (even my tiny high-school library) has at least two or three books devoted to the history of magic.

Hi,

Here's a select bibliography that might help:

CANNEL, J.C. (1973). The Secrets of Houdini.
New York: Dover Publications.

CHRISTOPHER, M. (1991). Magic: A Picture History.
New York: Dover Publications.

DAWES, E.A. & SETTERINGTON, A. (1993). Making Magic.
London: Multimedia Books Limited.

GIBSON, W.B. & YOUNG, M.N. (1953). Houdini on Magic.
New York: Dover Publications.

SORCAR, P.C. (1970). History of Magic.
Calcutta: Indrajal Publications.

WALDMAN, C., SWISS J.I. & COFFEY F. (1998). The Art of Magic - The Companion to the PBS Special
New York: General Publishing Group

I've heard that Magic and Meaning by Eugene Burger and Robert Neale is a book more based on the history of magic as well.