Hiding the Elephant

Regular price
$22.00
Regular price
Sale price
$22.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Now in paperback comes Jim Steinmeyer's astonishing chronicle of half a century of illusionary innovation, backstage chicanery, and keen competition within the world of magicians. Lauded by today's finest magicians and critics, Hiding the Elephant is a cultural history of the efforts among legendary conjurers to make things materialize, levitate, and disappear. Steinmeyer unveils the secrets and life stories of the fascinating personalities behind optical marvels such as floating ghosts interacting with live actors, disembodied heads, and vanishing ladies. He demystifies Pepper's Ghost, Harry Kellar's Levitation of Princess Karnak, Charles Morritt's Disappearing Donkey, and Houdini's landmark vanishing of Jennie the elephant in 1918. The dramatic mix of science and history, with revealing diagrams, photographs and magicians' portraits by William Stout, provides a glimpse behind the curtain at the backstage story of magic.
  • Hurry, only 1 item left in stock!
Hiding the Elephant

FAQs

Can you order a book for me?

Of Course!

Whether it's an out of stock title, or an item we don't yet carry, email us: illumebooksnbpt@gmail.com

Please provide the title and author in your request.

Do you provide shipping?

We provide shipping using USPS to the United States only.

If you prefer to pickup your order in-person, please select "Pick Up" during checkout.

What is the return policy?

merchandise returns for store credit within 14 days. No returns on Illume Essence, art & unwrapped games. All returns at discretion of the bookseller.

Are all of your products available online?

While we do our best to offer as much of our inventory online as possible, the best way to see everything is to stop by! ✨

We have small rotations of home decor, our reading inspiration gallery (shop made and oh so shiny), chess sets, and more.

Curation and "Why Don't You Carry..."

Illume is an experience for readers that's meant to showcase a careful selection of titles much in the same way an art gallery would display an exhibition.

Titles are always shown "cover forward", and our inventory rotates to reflect current reader interests, shifting topics, and obscure finds. That said, we LOVE recommendations! Let us know what you're looking for, or what your favorite reads are. You may find them on the shelves soon!

Whether you're a stacked to the brim library connoisseur, or a minimalist looking for a rare gem... we hope you'll enjoy our open space, find a new treasure, and experience the cozy reading couch🤍