Project Gutenberg 1996-02-01 Public domain in the USA. 281 Houdini, Harry 1874 1926 Weiss, Ehrich Deadota, Giovanni Weisz, Erik Miracle Mongers and Their Methods A Complete Exposé of the Modus Operandi of Fire Eaters, Heat Resisters, Poison Eaters, Venomous Reptile Defiers, Sword Swallowers, Human Ostriches, Strong Men, Etc. Produced by Charles Keller. HTML version by Al Haines. "Miracle Mongers and Their Methods" by Harry Houdini is a detailed exposé on the techniques and tricks of various performers who claim supernatural abilities, written during the late 19th century. The work serves as a historical account of entertainers such as fire-eaters, sword swallowers, and other so-called 'miracle mongers.' Houdini's first-hand experiences and knowledge of stage illusions provide insights into the methods behind these performances and the psychology of both the performers and the audiences who are often captivated by their acts. The opening of the book introduces Houdini's perspective on wonder and illusion, emphasizing human fascination with the extraordinary. He recounts the origins of fire worship and the mystique surrounding fire-eating across different cultures, linking historical practices with contemporary performances. Houdini illustrates the ritualistic nature of these acts, such as the fire-walking ceremonies of different peoples, while foreshadowing the scientific explanations that will follow in subsequent chapters. As he lays the groundwork, readers anticipate a thorough investigation of the art of illusion, including the secrets behind the celebrated feats of daring performed by famed entertainers throughout history. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 63.6 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en Magic tricks -- History Magicians -- Biography GV Text Category: History - Other Category: Art 265828 2025-07-01T05:22:01.495637 text/html 242361 2025-06-26T15:18:44 text/html 186939 2025-07-01T05:22:07.629612 application/epub+zip 188813 2025-07-01T05:22:04.296611 application/epub+zip 175232 2025-07-01T05:22:03.202647 application/epub+zip 305802 2025-07-01T05:22:10.154583 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 297880 2025-07-01T05:22:06.948631 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 294409 2022-09-01T05:51:11.426546 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 252362 2025-07-01T05:22:01.135668 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 232550 2025-06-26T15:18:44 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 16624 2025-07-01T05:22:10.269590 application/rdf+xml 11662 2025-07-01T05:22:03.681613 image/jpeg 2842 2025-07-01T05:22:03.439618 image/jpeg 185407 2025-07-01T05:22:01.517642 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia