AUDIOBOOK
About
Harry Houdini, born Ehrich Weiss, never did anything by half measure. Once he decided to become a magician, he became the King of Cards, the Prince of Air, the Genius of Escape, and Professor H. Houdini. And why not? He could walk through walls, defeat any lock, make elephants disappear with the snap of his fingers, and pick up needles with his eyelids!
Or could he? Fact or fiction? Legend or liar? We will never know for sure. But here in all its riveting glory is Sid Fleischman's witty and insightful biography of magic's greatest showman, daredevil, and escape artist ever-the Great Houdini!
"An accessible, witty, and
fascinating ride."
"What do you get when you put two prestidigitators, one a spellbinding
escape artist, the other a magician with words, into a black hat and
wave the wand? Abracadabra-a feat that's pure magic."
"Fleischman looks at Houdini's life
through his own eyes, as a fellow magician. Guarding the secrets, yet
entertaining readers, he tells the rags-to-rags story of a poor Jewish boy
named Ehrich Weiss, who longed to be like his idol, French magician
Robert-Houdin…Fleischman's tone is lively and he develops a relationship with
readers by revealing just enough truth behind Houdini's razzle-dazzle to keep
the legend alive…Engaging and fascinating."
"In this breezy biography, Newbery medalist Fleischman, himself a former
magician, pays homage to Harry Houdini-the man and the myth…A now aged and raspy-voiced Fleischman reads the preface and last chapter, bookending an engaging narrative."
"As a child magician, Fleischman
thrilled at spending time with Bess Houdini, wife of the great escape artist.
These early experiences gave him admiration, curiosity, and insider information
about his subject. As author, Fleischman, like narrator Taylor Mali and Houdini
himself, grows more excited when the magician's career takes off. Though he
won't reveal any magic secrets, Fleischman's writing fascinates listeners with
vivid pictures. Mali adds his own magic, especially a fine sense of timing.
Like the showman himself, Mali fascinates with renditions of Houdini's jail
breaks and straight-jacket escapes. He expertly relates the mysteries of a man
who still intrigues the world."
Or could he? Fact or fiction? Legend or liar? We will never know for sure. But here in all its riveting glory is Sid Fleischman's witty and insightful biography of magic's greatest showman, daredevil, and escape artist ever-the Great Houdini!
"An accessible, witty, and
fascinating ride."
"What do you get when you put two prestidigitators, one a spellbinding
escape artist, the other a magician with words, into a black hat and
wave the wand? Abracadabra-a feat that's pure magic."
"Fleischman looks at Houdini's life
through his own eyes, as a fellow magician. Guarding the secrets, yet
entertaining readers, he tells the rags-to-rags story of a poor Jewish boy
named Ehrich Weiss, who longed to be like his idol, French magician
Robert-Houdin…Fleischman's tone is lively and he develops a relationship with
readers by revealing just enough truth behind Houdini's razzle-dazzle to keep
the legend alive…Engaging and fascinating."
"In this breezy biography, Newbery medalist Fleischman, himself a former
magician, pays homage to Harry Houdini-the man and the myth…A now aged and raspy-voiced Fleischman reads the preface and last chapter, bookending an engaging narrative."
"As a child magician, Fleischman
thrilled at spending time with Bess Houdini, wife of the great escape artist.
These early experiences gave him admiration, curiosity, and insider information
about his subject. As author, Fleischman, like narrator Taylor Mali and Houdini
himself, grows more excited when the magician's career takes off. Though he
won't reveal any magic secrets, Fleischman's writing fascinates listeners with
vivid pictures. Mali adds his own magic, especially a fine sense of timing.
Like the showman himself, Mali fascinates with renditions of Houdini's jail
breaks and straight-jacket escapes. He expertly relates the mysteries of a man
who still intrigues the world."