hillcountrymagic
$14.95
Condition: Very Good
The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini by Ruth Brandon, published in 1993, is a acclaimed, demystifying biography that examines the world's most famous escape artist through a psychoanalytic and cultural lens. Rather than focusing solely on stagecraft, Brandon explores the psychological drivers behind Houdini's obsessions—particularly his intense devotion to his mother, his fixation with death, and his compulsion to physically master impossible traps—framing his escapes as metaphorical reenactments of rebirth and control over mortality. The book thoroughly chronicles his journey from impoverished Hungarian immigrant Ehrich Weiss to international superstar, highlighting his legendary escape acts, his crusade against fraudulent spiritualists, and his pioneer efforts in aviation and film, making it one of the most intellectually compelling and nuanced accounts of Houdini’s life and legacy.
