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A History of the Art of Conjuring by Kurt Volkmann - Book"Amazing! What an accomplishment for both Volkmann and Conjuring Arts!" David Copperfield "I've never seen a magic history book like this. It's more than an encyclopedia of magic and is filled with incredible ideas for anyone who wants to be inspired." David Blaine "These volumes are an amazing accomplishment on every level: The original research, the writing, the translation by Dr. Pieper and Max Pritchard, and the stunning presentation. I've had
"Amazing! What an accomplishment for both Volkmann and Conjuring Arts!"- David Copperfield
"I've never seen a magic-history book like this. It's more than an encyclopedia of magic and is filled with incredible ideas for anyone who wants to be inspired."
- David Blaine
"These volumes are an amazing accomplishment on every level: The original research, the writing, the translation by Dr. Pieper and Max Pritchard, and the stunning presentation. I've had many friends call and write to ask, "Are they worth it? Should I get them?" My answer to all of them, and to you, is "Yes. These are a must."These books are a remarkable resource and a remarkable value. As I looked through them, I kept thinking, "I wish Ricky could have seen these." You'll be happy from the second you begin to unbox them (this may be the best packing job any book has ever received) beyond the moment you turn the last page and every time you return to these volumes for deeper knowledge and inspiration. Here is my personal guarantee: If anyone gets these and doesn't believe that these books and the information inside them are worth many times the asking price, I guarantee the person hasn't actually read them.Now that this edition of Volkmann's History of the Art of Conjuring exists, I cannot imagine not owning it."
- Michael Weber
"Just when you thought you knew something about magic history, A History of the Art of Conjuring comes along and changes everything. These two gigantic books provide a view of magic that is both unfamiliar and endlessly fascinating. Seemingly every page provides us with new information. And as we have come to expect from the Conjuring Arts Research Center, these books are of the highest quality."
- Mike Caveney
"These volumes are breathtaking in their scope, detail, production and vision. They deserve a place on the bookshelf of anyone who is serious about the history of magic."
- Richard Wiseman
"A copy of this work belongs on the shelves of historians and collectors worldwide."
- Edwin A. Dawes
"The most thorough and best-researched history on conjuring ever written. [...] This two-volume set of Volkmann's History of the Art of Conjuring is magnificent and without a hint of hyperbole is required in the library of anyone with a serious interest in conjuring history."
- Stephen Minch
Almost a century in the making, appearing for the first time in book form... Kurt Volkmann's A History of the Art of Conjuring is here.
Kurt Volkmann's complete "Geschichte der Zauberkunst" series has been fully translated into English by Lori Pieper and Maxwell Pritchard. Volkmann's articles on magic history are considered by Steffen Taut to be "the best overall investigation on the history of conjuring." In translating Volkmann's work, Lori Pieper brought her extensive linguistic knowledge to the project, drawing from over a dozen languages.
The first volume of Kurt Volkmann's peerless History of the Art of Conjuring offers an in-depth examination of performance magic through the ages, from antiquity and the earliest sources documenting magical performers to modern times and Europe's most accomplished stage conjurers. Kurt Volkmann's rich prose guides readers through a wealth of manuscripts, books, newspapers and artwork in over a dozen languages to present an insightful exploration of what magic has meant to magicians and their audiences over the centuries.
In Volume Two, Volkmann focuses his keen analytical skills on individual countries and the texts and performers associated with them. Familiar names and stories from across Europe and beyond are viewed afresh, while the repertoires and motivations of lesser-known practitioners are teased out and discussed at length.
Both volumes feature 1,260 pages with 432 beautiful color illustrations throughout, all fully credited, and comprehensive annotated endnotes. Volume Two includes eleven appendices presenting new findings about the sources and magicians Volkmann discusses, as well as a vast Bibliography and an exhaustive Index. Printed on archival paper, with foil-stamped cloth binding and sewn signatures, and housed in a luxury slipcase. This is a magic-history book like no other.
Strictly limited to 1,000 numbered sets, available only from Conjuring Arts Research Center.
A History of the Art of Conjuring
Kurt Volkmann
Translated by Lori Pieper and Maxwell Pritchard
Edited by Maxwell Pritchard
Volume One:
"Kurt Volkmann: Solicitor, Soldier, Scholar"
- Richard Hatch
Foreword-Edwin A. Dawes
A Note on This Edition-Maxwell Pritchard
Kurt Volkmann's History of the Art of Conjuring
Introduction-The Natural Art of Conjuring and Supernatural Magic
Chapter One-Antiquity
Chapter Two-The Middle Ages
Chapter Three-The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
Chapter Four-The Eighteenth Century
Chapter Five-The Romantic Era
Chapter Six-Developers and Developments (analyses of Bosco, Döbler, Philippe, Robert-Houdin, Hofzinser, Anderson, Herrmann, Frikell, Heimbürger, Bellachini, Maskelyne and Buatier)
Endnotes
Illustration Credits
Volume Two:
Chapter Seven-Imitators and Innovators (a detailed study of the development of performance magic and its practitioners in France, England, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Portugal, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Greece, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Poland, Romania and Persia)
Endnotes
Appendices
Illustration Credits
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
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★★★★★ 3
fair narrative, has good information
Format: Kindle
Sparta is somewhat of a mystery. This book provides the reader with basic historical data, yet it lacks deeper detail. Sparta deserves more
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Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2022
★★★★★ 5
Fabulous helpful for homeschool
Format: Kindle
Very helpful for homeschooling.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2022
★★★★★ 4
...interesting ...
Format: Kindle
Impressive research - resulting in an interesting read.
Can tend towards overboard descriptions when a more concise format would be appreciated by the reader.
The formatting could be better with regards to headings and appropriate spacing.
Lots of detail to get through.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2022
★★★★★ 5
Sparta the Greek warrior city state
Format: Paperback
In ancient Greece there was no equal to the military skills of the army of Sparta. They started training young men at the age of seven with exercises that made their weapons an extension of their body. This let them weild weapons with more precision than their enemies. This is just one of the fun facts found in this book about Sparta. As with many nations which put their focus on the strength of the military forces Sparta was constantly at war. They were suspicious of the motives of other city states and often attacked before they could be attacked. We can learn much by learning of the Greeks and their relationships with each other, their alliance systems and their causes of wars. Comparing national alliance systems and causes of wars today with those of the Greeks we can learn many lessons. We can see things they could have done to prevent the carnage and and use it to our advantage. This book also gives a glimpse into the living conditions of Sparta. It explains the social structure and the government structure of Sparta. It tells of the role of women in the Spartan culture. Many times we use the term Spartan to describe a minimalist life style. This book describes the living conditions of the Spartans showing where that term originated. All of the above and much more is well described in this book about the ancient city of Sparta. As a former history teacher I highly recommended this book to everyone. This should be available to all. It is a must read
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Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2022
★★★★★ 5
Just Beautiful!!
Format: Paperback
absolutely phenomenal—an easy five-star read for me!
This story is rooted in redemption, survival, and forgiveness, and it delivers on every level. The emotional depth of the characters really stood out, especially as we follow a journey shaped by years of guilt, pain, and hard-earned growth. Nothing felt rushed or surface-level—every layer of the story was intentional and meaningful.
I especially loved how the author tied the theme of wildflowers into the narrative. It wasn’t just symbolic—it felt like a living, breathing part of the story, representing resilience and beauty rising from difficult circumstances. That connection made the story feel even more powerful and real.
The character development was beautifully done. You could feel the weight of their choices, their struggles, and ultimately their transformation. It’s one of those stories that stays with you after you turn the last page.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026