The Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson,
Posted: Sep 3rd, '07, 11:42
The Book: The Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson, Aka Chung Ling Soo, the Marvelous Chinese Conjurer by Jim Steinmeyer
Cost: Variable, £7.00 up to £12.00 - Google for source as most online and real bookshops will be able to supply.
Review: Well, if it's by Jim Steinmeyer, it's just got to be good and this certainly is!
Apart from a comprehensive history of Robinson's early career right up to his demise in 1918 on the stage of the Wood Green Empire theatre, we also get to learn a lot about Houdini, The Great Lafayette, The Herman family - Carl, Alexander, Leon and Wife Adelaide and many other famous names. The book title has multiple meanings, not only in the sense that Robison became Chung Ling Soo (in imitation of Ching Ling Foo) but in terms of his family life whereby his first marriage just fizzled out but the son of that marriage was unwanted by all so was placed in an orphanage, the second relationship with Dot who was his lifelong assistant and his 'secret' family in the South of England. He also had several other names, such as Hop Sing Loo and was perhaps not exactly a nice guy at times. In the early part of his career he helped to set up a house gaffed and faked to perform money making séances. The enterprise ended when they arranged for one distressed widower, at considerable expense, to have one more night of passion with his 'dead' wife (courtesy of a local lady of easy virtue, dim lighting, and a lot of make up!) but the poor old gent died a few minutes into the 'activities'. They dressed the deceased and were about to drag him round the corner and dump him to avoid any official enquiries when they realised the gent's driver was waiting outside and saw what they were doing. Exit Robinson on the next train out of the city!
The book has the nostalgic flavour of 'The Prestige' and reads like a who's who of many famous names, their involvement with each other, their jealousies and dirty tricks campaigns. Robinson flitted as assistant between many of the known names and took their secrets with him only to find that when he became famous, others were doing exactly the same thing to him. Conspiracies abound as to why his final performance of the bullet catching trick went wrong, there are several possible suspects who could easily have arranged for the accident to happen but it's probably more likely that Robinson was at fault, due to ill health and emotional pressures, he may have overlooked part of the preparation. If nothing else, it was a hell of a way to go!
Overall: Highly recommended reading - add it to your Christmas prezzie list!