Customer Reviews
An insight into the life of a great man - By: Shortie Chapman, 16 Jul 2008 
I've been a fan of Harry Houdini for a few years now, but I must admit this is the first book about him I've ever read. Therefore, this may or may not affect how you see my review. I hope it doesn't, because I thought this book was wonderful. The research was thorough, the photographs of Harry & his family were fascinating & it was a joy to read about his childhood & his supposed secret life as a spy.
I felt this book tried to break through the stereotypes of Harry Houdini which still existin our society today. I do not believe that anyone will ever know everything about this great man, but this book is certainly a brave step.
Lots of interesting stuff here - By: Jezza, 28 Sep 2007 
I'm not a big fan of biographies, & I'm not particularly interestedin magic, so it was a surprise how much I enjoyed this. The 'Houdini was a spy' revelations dragged a bit, & so did the details of his early showbiz career, but his conflict with the spiritualists & fake mediums is really fascinating. Isn't it funny how magicians consistently seem to be the most implacable enemies of new age nonsense?
Spy controversy a distraction from this EXCELLENT biography - By: John Cox, 27 Nov 2006 The "Houdini was a spy" aspect of this book - so hypedin the media & debated by magic historians - is a distraction from what should be seen, first & foremost, as a major new Houdini biography loaded with fascinating new facts about the great magician's life & career.
But what of this "spy" thing? Okay. Very quickly -in 1902/3 Houdini sent "reports" from Germany & Russia back to Superintendent Melville of Scotland Yard (who was then head of what could be considered British Intelligence). Does this mean Houdini was a spy, or just a letter writer who felt compelled to report what he was seeing to his friendin London? Authors Bill Kalush & Larry Sloman do make some interesting connections back to America & the shenanigans with Houdini's passport application...but it's all very speculative. For me, this "spy revelation" is just one of many, many new nuggets of information to be found within these fascinating 560 pages...and it's not even the most interesting nugget at that.
I was much more taken with the revelation of Bess Houdini's suicide attempt; a potential third Houdini mistress (Milla Barry); the attack on Houdini's brotherin his Harlem home; the Russian Royal family's Rasputian-like fascination with the magician; Montraville M. Wood's involvementin the development of the Milk Can & USD; Lord Northcliff's rolein Houdini's aviation career; Houdini's private secret service formed to expose spiritualists (Houdini actually bought a barbershop & trained an agent as a barber so they could communicate incognito); & the very troubling revelation that Margery & Dr. Crandon may have had a handin the disappearance of several young English boys (freaky stuff this).
I was also thrilled to see Kalush & Sloman incorporate breakthrough information containingin such recent studies as The Man Who Killed Houdini by Don Bell (which rewrites magic history by revealing Houdini suffered not one but TWO stomach punch attacksin his final weeks). And, last but not least, the wealth of never before seen photos contained here are wonderful!
I was surprised to see the inclusion of some stories I've always considered to be apocryphal -- the talein which Harry, as a boy, frees a convict from a pair of handcuffs is one. But the authors promise that a complete set of source reference notes are forthcomingin a separate volume. (Already some are available online at the Conjuring Arts Research Center website.)
The last major Houdini biography was Ken Silverman's 1996 Houdini!!! The Career of Ehrich Weiss (now out of print). I still consider the Silverman book the most authoritative Houdini biography, as well as the one that seems to best nail his complex character. But Secret Life uncovers many new facts not foundin Silverman, & for the layperson it may be the more entertaining & provocative read.
It's been 10 years since Silverman & it was time someone tackled the subject of Houdini again. My congratulations to William Kalush & Larry Sloman for doing so...and succeeding so spectacularly!
