Many of you may have heard me twittering on about this wonderful book in various postings, so I thought I would take the time to post up a complete review in an attempt to get you all to rush out & buy a copy!
TITLE: The First Psychic - the peculiar mystery of a notorious victorian wizard.
AUTHOR: Peter Lamont.
PRICE: £16.99 cover price, but much cheaper on-line (ie Amazon).
AVAILABLE FROM: Amazon et al.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Peter Lamont is a research fellow at the Koestler Parapsychology Unit at the University of Edinburgh. He specialises in the history & psychology of magic and psychic phenomena. He has worked professionally as a magician and psychic, and is a former president of the Edinburgh Magic Circle. The guy knows his stuff. He is also the author of the equally wonderful "Rise of the Indian Rope Trick".
THEY SAY: On the evening of Sunday 13th December 1868, a remarkable event took place in the Westminster home of Viscount Adare. There, a 35 year old man, whose extraordinary exploits had already made him something of a sensation, floated out of one third-floor window and in through another.
This was the most notorious of many feats performed by Daniel Dunglas Home, a low-born Scot who became an international celebrity by convincing the rich and famous that tables floated, that spirit hands materialised, and that he himself could levitate.
I SAY: First of all if you're looking for a book of tricks, this ain't it. However if you're looking for a book to inspire, intrigue, and impress then this is just the book. It is laugh out loud funny at times, sometimes tragic, but always readable and constantly inspiring.
As well as recounting the adventures of spirit medium Daniel Dunglas Home, this cracking book also recounts how the Victorian mediums inspired magicians to imitate their antics, the constant battle between the spiritualist community and the conjuring community (a battle which still continues today, althought many - like myself - enjoy blurring those bounderies as much as possible), and how the roots of modern magic (as practised by Brown, Blaine and Angel) lie not on the Victorian music hall stages but in the parlours and drawing rooms where spiritualists would conjure the dead, levitate, and escape from chains, ropes and locked boxes.
The book is a stunning piece of work and would be equally enjoyed by those whose magic incorporates a touch of the "spirituals" and the bizarre, and those who are on the "debunkers" side of the fence. Both parties will find much here to entertain and amuse. And of course as a magican it is your duty to be aware of your roots and your culture. This book will show you exactly where it all came from.
So who was Daniel Dunglas Home? Well he was the Victorian David Blaine. He intrigued, he amused, and he infuriated in equal measure. You either loved him or loathed him - there was no middle ground. But whatever you may think of him after reading this book, you will at least have respect for the first man to be described as "psychic" and the amazing adventure that was his life.
Go buy, for pity's sake!
