Harry Houdini Harry Houdini Harry Houdini (; born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss or Harry Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-born American illusionist and stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. He first attracted notice in vaudeville in the US and then as "Harry Handcuff Houdini" on a tour of Europe, where he challenged police forces to keep him locked up. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and having to escape from and hold his breath inside a sealed milk can with water in it. In 1904,
The Illusionist (1983 novel) The Illusionist (1983 novel) The Illusionist is a 1983 novel written by English author Anita Mason. The novel follows the story of Simon Magus, mentioned in Acts of the Apostles (8:9-24) as a magician, set in the first years of the Christian Church. It follows Magus' quest for power through magic, and contrasts that the power struggles between the apostles Paul, Peter and James who each have a different vision of what Jesus had stood for, and wish their perspective to dominate the Christian church. The novel is set in the Holy Land some years after the death of Christ.