Explore the eccentric characters, beliefs, and clients of 19th-century village conjurors, including Exeter prophetess Joanna Southcott, Leeds witch and murderess Mary Bateman, and murder-victim Ann Tennant. This book examines the period's pandemic of "witch scratching" and presents Michael Slater's extensive research that has revealed fascinating new depths to the history of supernatural study.

A famous magician's journey to find the greatest cardsharp ever evokes the forgotten world of magic where Americans found escape during the Great Depression It has the nostalgic quality of an old-fashioned fable, but Karl Johnson's The Magician and the Cardsharp is a true story that lovingly re-creates the sparkle of a vanished world. Here, set against the backdrop of America struggling through the Depression, is the world of magic, a realm of stars, sleight of hand, and sin where dreams could be realized - or stolen away. Following the Crash of '29, Dai Vernon, known by magicians as "the man who fooled Houdini," is tramping down Midwestern backroads, barely making ends meet. While swapping secrets with a Mexican gambler, he hears of a guy he doesn't quite believe is real - a legendary mystery man who deals perfectly from the center of the deck and who locals call the greatest cardsharp of all time. Determined to find the reclusive genius, Vernon sets out on a journey through America's shady, slick, and sinful side - from mob-run Kansas City through railroad towns that looked sleepy only in the daytime. Does he find the sharp? Well, Karl Johnson did - after years of research into Vernon's colorful quest, research that led him to places he never knew existed. Johnson takes us to the cardsharp's doorstep and shows us how he bestowed on Vernon the greatest secret in magic. The Magician and the Cardsharp is a unique and endlessly entertaining piece of history that reveals the artistry and obsession of a special breed of American showmen.

This book by a "magician's magician" discloses the secrets behind a collection of close-up marvels — including the author's "Out of the World," reputed to be the best card trick of the past century.

For over twenty years, psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman has examined the quirky science of everyday life. In Quirkology , he navigates the backwaters of human behavior, discovering the tell-tale signs that give away a liar, the secret science behind speed-dating and personal ads, and what a person's sense of humor reveals about the innermost workings of their mind- all along paying tribute to others who have carried out similarly weird and wonderful work. Wiseman's research has involved secretly observing people as they go about their daily business, conducting unusual experiments in art exhibitions and music concerts, and even staging fake sainces in allegedly haunted buildings. With thousands of research subjects from all over the world, including enamored couples, unwitting pedestrians, and guileless dinner guests, Wiseman presents a fun, clever, and unexpected picture of the human mind.

Rollover Revelation Revisited A flashy opening effect in which the three mates of a chosen card are produced in an unexpected manner. My Signature Effect Two signed transparent playing cards magically transpose with one another... and so do the signatures. Across The Void An impromptu and visually stunning version of the classic Cards Across plot. Four For One And One For All Four Jacks undoubtedly placed reversed into four different parts of the deck instantly change places with a signed selection held by the performer. The Kure False Cut A flourishy, deceptive in-the-hands full deck false cut. The Kure Pop-Out Move A finger-flicking production of a selected card that not only looks impossible but is oh so fun to perform. Stale Moldy Bread The Visitor plot revisited... using odd-backed cards. Take Two A simple yet effective double two card transposition that will leave your audience gasping. Let's Twist Again Twisting the Aces... with a twist. Triple Coincidence Three odd-backed predictions shuffled into a deck prove to be the three cards freely selected by three audience members. No forces! No duplicates! Simply ingenious! "Scott Kahn is a wonderfully inventive creator who is worth keeping your eyes on. It will be well worth the wait to see what other gems Scott has in store for us. Me? I can hardly wait. I have no reservations at all about the quality of Scott's work. Nice job!" --Shane Causer, Visions, The Online Journal of the Art of Magic "I loved Rollover Revelation. Thumb's way up from me!" --Doug Conn, USA "Your method of writing is excellent. I don't think I will ever go as far as writing my own material down for the public because there are guys like you that do it so much better." --Gerhard Erasmus, Taiwan "I enjoyed reading this book... Kahn's approach to magic is similar to that of his medical career - prescribing solutions that breathe new life into classic card magic... Great visual effects... Well structured... This is a fine debut effort and I look forward to what Kahn has in store for us next." --John Guastaferro, Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine "Well done! I like your ideas." --Richard James, Connoisseur Conjuring "Scott's Rollover Revelation is quick, direct and very much unexpected!" --Joshua Jay, USA "Very commercial! You can tell Scott puts thought into his card magic." --Marshall Petersen, H&R Magic Books "Nice job. Excellent handling. I'm definitely going to publish Rollover Revelation in my MAGIC Magazine column. Keep up the good work." --Jon Racherbaumer, USA