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The Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson, aka Chung Ling Soo, the "Marvelous Chinese Conjurer"
In a biography woven from equal parts enchantment and mystery, Jim Steinmeyer unveils the secrets behind the most enigmatic performer in the history of stage magic, Chung Ling Soo, the "Marvelous Chinese Conjurer" -- a magician whose daring made his contemporary Houdini seem like the boy next door. Soo's infamous and suspicious onstage death in 1918 mystified his fellow magicians: he was shot during a performance of "Defying the Bullets," in which he attempted to catch marked bullets on a porcelain plate. When Soo died, his deceptions began to unravel. It was discovered that he was not Chinese but a fifty-eight-year-old American named William Ellsworth Robinson, a former magicians' assistant and the husband of Olive Robinson. But even William Robinson was not who he appeared to be, for he had kept a second family with a mistress in a fashionable home near London. Here is a look at the rough-and-tumble world of turn-of-the-century entertainments, the West's discovery of Oriental culture, and Soo's strange descent into secrecy as he rose to stardom -- written by the foremost chronicler of magic's history and culture. Due to the scandals surrounding Robinson's death, this is the first time his full story has ever been told. Photographs are included.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
17 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Jim Steinmeyer
42 books66 followersJim Steinmeyer was born and raised just outside of Chicago, Illinois, and graduated in 1980 from Loyola University of Chicago, with a major in communications. He is literally the man behind the magicians having invented impossibilities for four Doug Henning television specials, six touring shows, two Henning Broadway shows, and numerous television and Las Vegas appearances.For one of David Copperfield's television specials, Jim proposed the scenario and secret by which the Statue of Liberty could "disappear." Jim has also served as a consultant for Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield and Lance Burton. He developed magic for Orson Welles, Harry Blackstone, and the Pendragons and many, many others.
In addition to his books and many accomplishments on stage and screen, Jim currently holds four U.S. patents in the field of illusion apparatus, and has also served as an expert witness in this field.
He currently lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife Frankie Glass, an independent television producer who has worked extensively in Great Britain and the U.S.
In addition to his books and many accomplishments on stage and screen, Jim currently holds four U.S. patents in the field of illusion apparatus, and has also served as an expert witness in this field.
He currently lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife Frankie Glass, an independent television producer who has worked extensively in Great Britain and the U.S.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 26, 2008
It’s not art, and I doubt it helped me grow any as a person, but this book was a fun read.
It launches in Sunset Boulevard fashion, as the central character is shot to death onstage while performing a trick involving the catching of bullets. The rest of the story is told chronologically, as William Robinson—born in New York—learns his art at the feet of the 19th century’s greatest magicians, eventually becoming a top draw himself as the allegedly-Chinese sorcerer “Chung Ling Soo.”
Throughout the book, author Steinmeyer (who has designed magic tricks professionally for David Copperfield and many others) also provides detailed explanations of how the era’s most popular tricks were performed—information that, I’m embarrassed to say, was utterly lost on me.
As interesting as Robinson/Soo’s life was, my favorite detail in the book concerned “Beauty,” a dog owned by rival magician “The Great Lafayette.” Beauty was a mixed-breed mongrel, found by Harry Houdini in a Nashville, Tennessee animal shelter and subsequently given to Lafayette as a gift. Lafayette promptly incorporated Beauty into his magic act—but not before padding her pedigree considerably, billing her as an exotic Gheckhound from the remote (and, by the way, completely imaginary) island of Gheck in the Azores.
It launches in Sunset Boulevard fashion, as the central character is shot to death onstage while performing a trick involving the catching of bullets. The rest of the story is told chronologically, as William Robinson—born in New York—learns his art at the feet of the 19th century’s greatest magicians, eventually becoming a top draw himself as the allegedly-Chinese sorcerer “Chung Ling Soo.”
Throughout the book, author Steinmeyer (who has designed magic tricks professionally for David Copperfield and many others) also provides detailed explanations of how the era’s most popular tricks were performed—information that, I’m embarrassed to say, was utterly lost on me.
As interesting as Robinson/Soo’s life was, my favorite detail in the book concerned “Beauty,” a dog owned by rival magician “The Great Lafayette.” Beauty was a mixed-breed mongrel, found by Harry Houdini in a Nashville, Tennessee animal shelter and subsequently given to Lafayette as a gift. Lafayette promptly incorporated Beauty into his magic act—but not before padding her pedigree considerably, billing her as an exotic Gheckhound from the remote (and, by the way, completely imaginary) island of Gheck in the Azores.
May 2, 2009
Maybe I'm too easy on books like this because I am absolutely fascinated with the subject matter in general so I suppose I am a little biased, but I loved this book. I love that its real. And it doesn't just give you a biography of William Robinson but it starts you off with the history of vaudeville...the true beginnings of the industry. Its one of those non-fiction books that reads like fiction rather than a school text book. I would read this book again...just might.
April 3, 2011
Interesting biography of William Robinson, a true-to-life Victorian/Edwardian-era magician/illusionist who lived a life of deception, on and off stage. Great side stories concerning the other magician/illusionists of his day -- The Great Lafeyette, Houdini, and Ching Ling Foo who became his greatest enemy in the competetive world of magicians after "Rob" took on the persona of "Chung Ling Soo" in England (together with an overwhenlmingly succesful tour to Australia).
September 13, 2023
Extremely detailed life of a magician 100 years ago. Lots of surprises.
May 10, 2011
This was an absolutely fantastic read. Highly recommended.
May 26, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, being a magician myself, I have always been fascinated with William Robinson. Highly recommended.
June 8, 2023
A very interesting read and probably one of the better biographies I've read. I really enjoy books like this, in the sense that they explore very niche topics that I otherwise would have had no knowledge of. The book provides an entertaining narrative around Robinson's life as a magician's assistant in the United States, and his double life as the faux Chinese magician Chung Ling Soo in Europe. Moreover, the author did a very good job showcasing and explaining this shift in Robinson's life.
On top of the biographical aspects, the book gave a solid overview of the history and development of stage magic in the Edwardian/Victorian era and introduced me to notable figures from the era. I'd read biographies on several other persons introduced in the book such as Hermann the Great, the Great Lafayette, and Harry Houdini.
As an aside, there were notable racial implications present in the book. For example, the obvious fact that Robinson built his career around a western characterization of a Chinese mystic (and discredited an actual Chinese stage magician in the process) helped drive home the sense of racial ignorance at the time. Robinson's success as Chung Ling Soo in part speaks to his encyclopedic knowledge of stage magic and his ability as a performer, but also to the sheer lack of knowledge of the general public. As often mentioned in the book, the audience was there to see miracles- whether or not they were presented by a genuine Chinese magician, or an American pretending to be a Chinese magician.
Overall a great read and I would recommend this to anyone interested in magic or someone looking to read about a niche historical oddity. Steinmeyer has several other books related to the history of stage magic that I'd like to read at some point.
On top of the biographical aspects, the book gave a solid overview of the history and development of stage magic in the Edwardian/Victorian era and introduced me to notable figures from the era. I'd read biographies on several other persons introduced in the book such as Hermann the Great, the Great Lafayette, and Harry Houdini.
As an aside, there were notable racial implications present in the book. For example, the obvious fact that Robinson built his career around a western characterization of a Chinese mystic (and discredited an actual Chinese stage magician in the process) helped drive home the sense of racial ignorance at the time. Robinson's success as Chung Ling Soo in part speaks to his encyclopedic knowledge of stage magic and his ability as a performer, but also to the sheer lack of knowledge of the general public. As often mentioned in the book, the audience was there to see miracles- whether or not they were presented by a genuine Chinese magician, or an American pretending to be a Chinese magician.
Overall a great read and I would recommend this to anyone interested in magic or someone looking to read about a niche historical oddity. Steinmeyer has several other books related to the history of stage magic that I'd like to read at some point.
February 16, 2021
This was a very well-written book. Steinmeyer makes the story of William Robinson come alive, and manages to capture perfectly the feel of the era. This book probably deserves a higher rating, but I have to rate it the way I feel about it, and although it was an excellent read, over 400 pages was taxed my patience with the subject matter.
That's my fault, not Steinmeyer's - he's created a very entertaining book, but around page 300 when Robinson had taken on the guise of Chung Ling Soo, I found myself wondering "what more is there to tell?" Steinmeyer does tell the story well, and the book doesn't feel padded - it's just a lot of information for a man that I'm probably only slightly interested in.
That's my fault, not Steinmeyer's - he's created a very entertaining book, but around page 300 when Robinson had taken on the guise of Chung Ling Soo, I found myself wondering "what more is there to tell?" Steinmeyer does tell the story well, and the book doesn't feel padded - it's just a lot of information for a man that I'm probably only slightly interested in.
September 19, 2020
If you've already read "Hiding the Elephant", Steinmeyer's most popular book, then you already know the highlights of this fascinating period in American entertainment. This is a very thorough biography of one of the most interesting magicians, a man who died onstage doing his most famous illusion. But the book, well over 400 pages, gets bogged down in so many details. I suppose everyone's life is full of repetition and meaningless detail, but a biographer's job is make it all hang together and become an interesting whole. On the level, it doesn't quite succeed.
April 26, 2024
3.5 stars rounded down. Some extraneous detail, plus confusing (sometimes the same person is referred to by three different names on the same page, and I understand why the author made that choice but it did make it a little hard to follow). Was happy to see criticism of what Robinson did, both by the author as well as, surprisingly to me, by some contemporaries, but I still feel he was romanticized a bit too much, which is mainly why I rounded down instead of up for the star rating.
July 29, 2017
Dramatized biographies are caught between dry and fake, between "In March 1885..." and "The door slammed with a bang." I much preferred Steinmeyer's Hiding the Elephant.
September 5, 2018
I enjoyed the story and magic.
December 14, 2018
one of the most interesting biographies I have ever read
May 25, 2014
The Glorious Deception is a great title for a book examining the life of William Robinson, as his life was always a deception on some level or other. For much of the time reading the book, I felt that the deception was actually glorious, but by the end it was just pathetic. Turns out that creating a chaotic, complicated personal life doesn't lead one to happiness. Shocking.
This book is not full of great prose. If you're looking for some amazingly written, fun-to-read non-fiction, look elsewhere. Jim Steinmeyer's writing is good enough to move the story along, but often his word choices feel forced and calculated. It was a smidgen distracting for me. He did a good enough job describing the magic and the stage in a way that felt factual, but I never felt like I was THERE.
Writing style aside, the book is a glimpse into the fascinating, successful, tragic, pathetic life of a great magician during the golden age of magic. You know, back in the day when they used to pretend that magic was real and people totally bought it. William Robinson might have been the most skilled, learned magician who couldn't make it as himself on stage. So he invented a character and almost overnight became a star. Genius.
When I started learning about this guy's life, I assumed that it would be cleaner than it really was. But no. The guy had a wife and kid he abandoned. His parents raised the daughter that he sired just months after marrying his first wife. He ditched the devoted life partner that he'd been with for all of his stage career in favor of some young pretty thing. He became a father of 3 children that he didn't care to spend much time with (though he did actually financially support this batch). And as if all that wasn't enough, he was treacherous, dishonest, short-tempered and untrustworthy in his professional life! It's a bit much.
By the end I just felt bad for the guy. What a spectacularly pathetic life.
This book is not full of great prose. If you're looking for some amazingly written, fun-to-read non-fiction, look elsewhere. Jim Steinmeyer's writing is good enough to move the story along, but often his word choices feel forced and calculated. It was a smidgen distracting for me. He did a good enough job describing the magic and the stage in a way that felt factual, but I never felt like I was THERE.
Writing style aside, the book is a glimpse into the fascinating, successful, tragic, pathetic life of a great magician during the golden age of magic. You know, back in the day when they used to pretend that magic was real and people totally bought it. William Robinson might have been the most skilled, learned magician who couldn't make it as himself on stage. So he invented a character and almost overnight became a star. Genius.
When I started learning about this guy's life, I assumed that it would be cleaner than it really was. But no. The guy had a wife and kid he abandoned. His parents raised the daughter that he sired just months after marrying his first wife. He ditched the devoted life partner that he'd been with for all of his stage career in favor of some young pretty thing. He became a father of 3 children that he didn't care to spend much time with (though he did actually financially support this batch). And as if all that wasn't enough, he was treacherous, dishonest, short-tempered and untrustworthy in his professional life! It's a bit much.
By the end I just felt bad for the guy. What a spectacularly pathetic life.
September 10, 2023
This is a fascinating dive into the world of magic in the early 20th Century. William Robinson was a magician, and a good one, but he couldn’t achieve success, mainly because he could not master the patter that a conventional magician needs.
So, he created the personal of Chung Ling Soo, Chinese magician, who supposedly did not speak English. All the introductions were performed by his assistant and supposed wife, Dot Path. Robinson’s act was a blatant ripoff of Ching Ling Foo, a real Chinese magician, who had become famous in America.
By all accounts, Robinson was as accomplished at “Oriental” magic as Ching Ling Foo, and the two men carried on a long feud (at a distance).
Chung Ling Soo would probably be forgotten today if not for a mishap in 1918 in London. Robinson was performing his most famous illusion “Condemned to Death by the Boxers”, aka “The Magic Bullet” trick. In the illusion, a marked bullet would be loaded into a rifle and fired at him. He seemingly would catch the bullet. In reality, Robinson would palm the marked bullet, and the rifle was modified to not fire a bullet. Due to improper preparation of the rifle, it actually fired a bullet, hitting Robinson in a lung. He died the following morning.
Anyone with even a causal interest in magic would enjoy this book. Mr. Steinmeyer is kind enough to explain how many of Robinson illusions were performed. Robinson’s personal life was quite interesting. He maintained the Chung Ling Soo deception for nearly 20 years, and will forever be remembered for his tragic death.
So, he created the personal of Chung Ling Soo, Chinese magician, who supposedly did not speak English. All the introductions were performed by his assistant and supposed wife, Dot Path. Robinson’s act was a blatant ripoff of Ching Ling Foo, a real Chinese magician, who had become famous in America.
By all accounts, Robinson was as accomplished at “Oriental” magic as Ching Ling Foo, and the two men carried on a long feud (at a distance).
Chung Ling Soo would probably be forgotten today if not for a mishap in 1918 in London. Robinson was performing his most famous illusion “Condemned to Death by the Boxers”, aka “The Magic Bullet” trick. In the illusion, a marked bullet would be loaded into a rifle and fired at him. He seemingly would catch the bullet. In reality, Robinson would palm the marked bullet, and the rifle was modified to not fire a bullet. Due to improper preparation of the rifle, it actually fired a bullet, hitting Robinson in a lung. He died the following morning.
Anyone with even a causal interest in magic would enjoy this book. Mr. Steinmeyer is kind enough to explain how many of Robinson illusions were performed. Robinson’s personal life was quite interesting. He maintained the Chung Ling Soo deception for nearly 20 years, and will forever be remembered for his tragic death.
June 23, 2013
This is an interesting and very in-depth book about the life of William Robinson aka Chung Ling Soo, a famous American magician (and friend of Harry Houdini) posing as a Chinese magician in the late 1800's and early 1900's. In this case, by very in-depth I mean overly long. While I did find the book interesting and well-written and many of the magic tricks fascinating, I think it could have been cut by a hundred pages or so. I tired of such detailed description of every trick, no matter how fascinating they were. Still, if you are interested in magic tricks, there are some great ones described in this book.
Major take-aways from this book: 1) Magic is very hard work, especially the big-stage extravaganzas with many props that William Robinson staged all over the world. And you better be sure everything is in exact working order BEFORE you hit the stage. Even so, there will be accidents. 2) Magicians are very secretive and not just about their magic. William Robinson's private life was every bit the complicated mystery (to the public) that his magic was. 3) Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are tricks involving loaded guns a good idea, even with fake bullets, tricked-out guns, and trusted assistants. People make mistakes. Deadly mistakes.
This book is a good read if you are of a mind to understand more about magic and some of the famous magicians who paved the way for the magicians of today.
Major take-aways from this book: 1) Magic is very hard work, especially the big-stage extravaganzas with many props that William Robinson staged all over the world. And you better be sure everything is in exact working order BEFORE you hit the stage. Even so, there will be accidents. 2) Magicians are very secretive and not just about their magic. William Robinson's private life was every bit the complicated mystery (to the public) that his magic was. 3) Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are tricks involving loaded guns a good idea, even with fake bullets, tricked-out guns, and trusted assistants. People make mistakes. Deadly mistakes.
This book is a good read if you are of a mind to understand more about magic and some of the famous magicians who paved the way for the magicians of today.
September 6, 2009
I wanted to read this ever since Teller of Penn & Teller recommended it. I know next to nothing about magic and I found this book very interesting.
It does reveal how some tricks back in the day were performed, but I don't think this sours anyone's expectations of a magic show. We're not stupid, we know there's a trick to the performances.
The fact that this was a non-fiction story about a white American man who portrayed himself as a Chinese sorcerer was incredible. It's also fascinating that he ended up being killed in the Catch the Bullet trick, which had killed a couple other magicians prior, too.
The short part of the book that reveals how Robinson/Soo was killed was especially interesting, but maybe that's because I'm a nerd. :)
It does reveal how some tricks back in the day were performed, but I don't think this sours anyone's expectations of a magic show. We're not stupid, we know there's a trick to the performances.
The fact that this was a non-fiction story about a white American man who portrayed himself as a Chinese sorcerer was incredible. It's also fascinating that he ended up being killed in the Catch the Bullet trick, which had killed a couple other magicians prior, too.
The short part of the book that reveals how Robinson/Soo was killed was especially interesting, but maybe that's because I'm a nerd. :)
February 27, 2015
From an early age, many people have a fascination with magic and those famous 19th/20th century performers, who really created many of today's grand illusions.
The tale of the notoriously dangerous bullet catching trick, which took the life of Chung Ling Soo on a London stage in 1918, was legendary in my schooldays.
Jim Steinmeyer tells his life story, which proves to be even more deceptive than his tricks. Interweaving the history of stage magic with tricks from contemporary greats, this is an absolute must for anyone who still hankers after the great age of conjuring.
Immerse yourself in the magic as he spirits you away to another world.
The tale of the notoriously dangerous bullet catching trick, which took the life of Chung Ling Soo on a London stage in 1918, was legendary in my schooldays.
Jim Steinmeyer tells his life story, which proves to be even more deceptive than his tricks. Interweaving the history of stage magic with tricks from contemporary greats, this is an absolute must for anyone who still hankers after the great age of conjuring.
Immerse yourself in the magic as he spirits you away to another world.
September 2, 2008
Honestly, I bought this book because of its cover. I had no clue that this book was about the life of a magician. And the double life of the same magician in question. Well, I guess I could've guessed it based on the title, but like I said, I bought the book because of its cover.
It was a good book, nonetheless. A biography about a magician from the beginning of his career in the late 19th century to his Spoiler Alert! death. A lot of illusions' secrets are revealed in the book, too, if you ever watched David Copperfield in the 90s and wondered, "How did he do that?"
It was a good book, nonetheless. A biography about a magician from the beginning of his career in the late 19th century to his Spoiler Alert! death. A lot of illusions' secrets are revealed in the book, too, if you ever watched David Copperfield in the 90s and wondered, "How did he do that?"
September 9, 2012
A stunning piece my the multi-talented Jim Steinmeyer. This piece covers one of the most exciting, and fascinating times in the history of magic. Through Steinmeyer's historical lens we get to witness the shows of previous masters such as Alexander Hermann, and Harry Kellar. Following the exploits of a failed professional magicians turned stage manager, this book lays out a slice of life in show business, circa the early 1900s. A colorful voyage, and one supremely worth taking, especially for fans of magic, vaudeville, and excitingly written biographies.
May 4, 2013
A very fascinating account of the life and illusions of Chung Ling Soo, the world's greatest Chinese Magician, who was actually Englishman William Robinson.
Fans of Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine" will recall the character of the Colonel, who recounted an eye-witness telling of the night Chung Ling Soo died performing his famous bullet-catching trick.
This is an excellent biography of a very interesting performer, and an insight into the times and tribulations of Show Business at the turn of the 20th Century
Fans of Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine" will recall the character of the Colonel, who recounted an eye-witness telling of the night Chung Ling Soo died performing his famous bullet-catching trick.
This is an excellent biography of a very interesting performer, and an insight into the times and tribulations of Show Business at the turn of the 20th Century
February 13, 2008
Heard about this book in a piece on NPR by Teller. I hate it when people buy music and books that they heard about between the all the tragic stories on NPR news about the last of something dieing out or disappearing forever from the ecosytem but this is a really great story.
There are great insights into the way the entertainment business worked around the turn of the century and development of the art and traditions of magic and illusion.
There are great insights into the way the entertainment business worked around the turn of the century and development of the art and traditions of magic and illusion.
September 17, 2010
Borrowed from Derek
A fascinating look at turn of the century entertainment - vaudeville, magic shows and the cutthroat business dealings behind them. A well-researched, entertaining read. Will have to see if I can get a hold of Steinmyer's other book Hiding the Elephant
A fascinating look at turn of the century entertainment - vaudeville, magic shows and the cutthroat business dealings behind them. A well-researched, entertaining read. Will have to see if I can get a hold of Steinmyer's other book Hiding the Elephant
January 28, 2009
Excellent book about the high water mark in Magic (and Vaudeville for that matter). Robinson's life and shows are well documented and Steinmeyer's experience in magic acts helps explain the illusions. The other characters in the book like Houdini, Kellar, Herrmann, Lafayette add to the atmosphere and mood of the era. If you have any interest in magic or stage craft, this is an excellent read.
Read
August 14, 2010Biography of the magician who famously and spectacularly failed the bullet catch illusion.
This will be a fun read for those interested in magic history, as it covers the golden age from 1880 to 1920, both in the US and in England.
Probably 4.5 for those specifically interested in magic, 3.5 for those interested in the history of that time period, lower than that for none of the above.
This will be a fun read for those interested in magic history, as it covers the golden age from 1880 to 1920, both in the US and in England.
Probably 4.5 for those specifically interested in magic, 3.5 for those interested in the history of that time period, lower than that for none of the above.
October 16, 2010
As William Robinson, he was a competent, if forgettable stage magician. As Chung Ling Soo, Chinese mystic and practitioner of the ancient arts of magic, he was world famous, a rival of the Great Houdini himself, until a magic bullet trick went horribly wrong. It's an incredible and true story of magicians and there art. This is a terrific book for magic fans.
July 19, 2012
Billy Robinson was a complicated man.
This is the story of how he made everyone believe he was an old Chinese Magician, rather than a skinny white bloke. Why no one has made this a movie, I am at a loss to explain. As you would expect, Steinmeyer delivers a clear, concise, authoritative account of Robinson's life and career.
This is the story of how he made everyone believe he was an old Chinese Magician, rather than a skinny white bloke. Why no one has made this a movie, I am at a loss to explain. As you would expect, Steinmeyer delivers a clear, concise, authoritative account of Robinson's life and career.
May 19, 2013
A very rich and detailed biography of an enigmatic entertainer. Great stories of the golden age of magic and amazing tricks (including the bullet catching trick that killed Soo on stage). But the most amazing trick of all may be the story of how William Robertson took on the persona of Chung Ling Soo and became one of the famous magicians of his day.
December 9, 2015
It was a good book about a by gone time. It inspired me to attend my first live magic show. I found it really funny that the theater going public liked the fake China-man better than the real thing.
January 27, 2008
Go to this link for an introduction to the book.......
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews