Houdini

Before he became the world's best-known illusionist, Ehrich Weiss renamed himself. The new name honored Robert-Houdin, a magician regarded as one of the greats, and suited a career built on magic and showmanship. Houdini's stage feats and escapes were bolder and harder than anything performers had attempted, and his reputation spread across the globe until no other magician's name could compete with his.

He became known for vanishing through solid brick walls and breaking free from straitjackets, including ones lowered into water. He staged escapes in public squares and from jail cells in large cities, and audiences turned out in large numbers to watch.

Tom Lalicki's account combines narrative with a rich selection of images. The photographs show a performer working with flair and secrecy, holding crowds spellbound and leaving experts puzzled by his skill and inventiveness.