It is not an exaggeration to say that the magic world was desperate for the release of this book and when it finally did appear, the response was overwhelming. The presses had barely stopped spinning when it went to a second printing and it is now in its fifth edition.
Customers knew they would be thrilled with the sleights, theories and routines that fill the 320 pages of Drawing Room Deceptions but they were surprised and delighted with the book’s physical appearance. The two-color stamping on the cover, a frontispiece featuring a formal portrait of the author, marbled end-sheets and distinctive typography and artwork give this book the appearance of a classic, nineteenth century magic textbook.
Drawing Room Deceptions did not become the publisher’s fastest selling book ever just by chance. It was the direct result of a series of specific events. The first ingredient was a young English schoolboy willing to invest a full decade of his young life in the study and practice of close-up card magic. He was not satisfied to mimic the tricks of others so he created a repertoire that was totally original. Along the way, he developed a distinct performing style that was gentlemanly yet steeped in sophisticated humor.
Guy’s reputation for possessing impeccable skill along with an arsenal of original material became miracles to the London Underground scene. And one miracle that stood out among all others was his not-to-be-believed, piece-by-piece card restoration, now known to the magic world at large as The Reformation.
The final piece of the puzzle was putting all of this knowledge into a single book, Drawing Room Deceptions.
Contents:
One - Concerning cards that turn over, move position, separate in colour and generally perform amusing feats; including:
Waving The Aces
A second version thereof
Oil and Water
Cherchez la Femme
The Hofsinzer Problem
Other thoughts
Two - pertaining to the difficulty of magic and the merits of bespoke tailoring; including:
The Penetration of Cards through a Jacket
Travellers
An Ambidextrous Interchange
A "One Card" Routine
Other thoughts
Three - regarding items of stationary and the significance of good fortune; Including:
The control of chosen cards
An Ace Assembly
The Homing Card
Cannibal Cards
Other thoughts
*** INTERVAL *** -Including a variety of eccentricities; such as:
The shift
Methods of controlling and palming
Switching cards
False dealing
False shuffling
Four - incorporating a number of dishonest practices; including:
A Gambling Routine
A More Light-Hearted Routine
Call to the Colours
Five - in which an inspector calls, and we discuss his deceit; including:
A Destroyed and Reproduced Card
A Card at Any Number
A Card Stab
Six - containing an assortment of items, involving boxes, unusual shuffling and the fall of Troy; including:
Three Cards under a Box
A Triumph Routine
The Cassandra Quandary
Epilogue - during which a method for tearing and restoring a card is discussed.
Pages: 311 – 6″ x 9″ – Hardbound with 2-color stamping on cover and spine. Marbled endsheets.
