Gibecière 16, Summer 2013, Vol. 8, No. 2 - Book

Murphy's Magic

288 pages and nearly 2 lbs, this issue opens with a long-anticipated piece by Barry Wiley on the Piddingtons. Syd Piddington was a magician who was captured and imprisoned as a POW in Changi prison, Singapore during World War II. During his captivity, with the help of Russell Braddon, Fergus Anckorn and others, he created one of the greatest mind-reading acts ever staged. After the Japanese lost the war, Piddington toured the world and became a sensation. Mr. Wiley gives us the details he discovered from his firsthand interviews and excellent research.

One of the world's great historians and a favorite contributor, Enrique Jiménez, has truly outdone himself this time. His expanded and greatly detailed checklist of Minguet's classic, Engaños a ojos vistas, is in this issue. In addition to more details on Minguet's life and work, a full facsimile and translation of an outrageously rare Spanish booklet by Francisco Papuè is also included. A reference to this early 18th century pamphlet was discovered a few years ago, but no copy could be located. Mr. Jiménez diligently scoured the world and found what might be the only copy; it was being held in a famous Spanish monastery. Upon request, the monks made the book available. Now through Lori Pieper's translation, this wonderful little book is available to you.