The rise of the Indian rope trick : the biography of a legend
by Lamont, Peter
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- ISBN 10
- 1560256613
- ISBN 13
- 9781560256618
- Seller
-
Galway, Ireland
2 Copies Available from This Seller
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About This Item
New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2005. First American Edition. Hardback. An exceptional copy; fine in an equally fine dw. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Literally as new.; 8vo 8"" - 9"" tall; 264 pages; Description: xxiii, 264 p. : ill. ; 20 cm. Subjects: Magic tricks --India --History --Legends --History and criticism --Great Britain --Intellectual life --19th century --20th century. Summary: We assume that the Indian rope trick is a piece of ancient Hindu magic. But think again: it is actually the product of a hoax which appeared in the Chicago Tribune in 1890. This wonderfully researched, playfully written book takes us on a journey through Victorian society where we discover the interest in magic of Charles Dickens; Alfred Russell Wallace; Edward, Prince of Wales; Lord Northbrook and Charles Darwin. We learn how in an age of reason the British came to love all things Oriental and how the legend of the rope trick came to be perpetuated throughout the 20th century as fanatical public figures and aristocrats went to India in search of it and returned claiming to have seen it being performed. This is a charming history book filled with colourful characters, known and unknown, all of whom pursued an obsession. Some were respected members of society, some were incredibly eccentric and utterly deluded. It is set against the background of Victorian society and shows how the writing of history itself can perpetuate myths and legends.
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Details
- Bookseller
- MW Books Ltd. (IE)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 170924
- Title
- The rise of the Indian rope trick : the biography of a legend
- Author
- Lamont, Peter
- Format/Binding
- Hardback
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Edition
- First American Edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 1560256613
- ISBN 13
- 9781560256618
- Publisher
- New York: Thunder's Mouth Press
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 2005
Terms of Sale
MW Books Ltd.
Returns accepted within 10 days of receipt if you are unsatisfied with either our description of, or the book itself.
About the Seller
MW Books Ltd.
Biblio member since 2005
Galway
About MW Books Ltd.
MW Books is an academic and antiquarian bookshop with a large stock in core areas such as Early Travel & Exploration, Nineteenth Century Literature, Early Political Economy, Labour and Social History, and Asian and Colonial History. Please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions or comments regarding any item listed.