Skip to main content
Chaptra

The AI reading companion for people who take books seriously

AI insights, chapter breakdowns, community discussions — all in one place.

Join free
Book0 • 300+ pages • 5+ hours reading time

Book of parlor tricks: How to perform them

4.5/5
284 readers on Chaptra have this book

About this book

"Book of Parlor Tricks: How to Perform Them" by Anonymous is a guide on performing various entertaining tricks and illusions, written during the late 19th century. This instructional book belongs to the genre of instructional manuals, specifically focusing on magic and performance. It likely draws upon the popular fascination with entertainment and sleight-of-hand tricks that characterized social gatherings during that era. The book consists of numerous tricks designed for social entertainment, explaining step-by-step methods for their execution. For example, it details how to perform divinations, create illusions of restored items, and even coax coins to appear and disappear, employing various props and clever falsehoods. Each entry is intended to be simple enough for enthusiasts to perform at parlor gatherings, engaging audiences with a mix of wordplay and visual spectacle. By following the instructions, readers can bring a sense of wonder and laughter to their gatherings, making it a delightful resource for anyone interested in the art of performance magic.
Language
English
Publisher
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Unknown
Downloads
184

Explore Magic tricks Books

Discover more Magic tricks literature
Cover of Book of parlor tricks: How to perform them

Click "Read now" to open in our Reader with AI features.

Community Discussions

Join the conversation about this book

Discussions

0 discussions

Join

No discussions yet

Be the first to start a discussion about this book!

Sign up to start the discussion

AI-Powered Insights

A clearer way to understand Book of parlor tricks: How to perform them through themes, characters, and key ideas

This reading guide highlights what stands out in Book of parlor tricks: How to perform them through 3 core themes, 2 character profiles. It is meant to help readers decide whether the book fits their taste and deepen the reading once they begin.

AI Reading GuidePreview

About this book

A quick AI guide to “Book of parlor tricks: How to perform them

Get the shape of the book before you commit: what it is about, what mood it carries, and what ideas readers tend to stay with afterward.

~10h readintermediatecharminginstructivenostalgic

What the book is doing

"Book of Parlor Tricks: How to Perform Them" is a late 19th-century instructional manual designed to equip readers with the skills to perform various magic tricks and illusions for social entertainment. Penned by an anonymous author, this guide delves into a range of techniques, from divinations and coin manipulations to seemingly restoring broken items, all presented with step-by-step clarity. It reflects the era's fascination with domestic amusement and the art of sleight-of-hand, serving as a practical resource for engaging and delighting audiences at parlor gatherings. The book emphasizes both the technical execution and the theatrical presentation, making it an invaluable historical artifact for understanding period entertainment and the enduring appeal of magic.

Key Themes

Illusion and Deception

Central to the entire book, this theme explores the art and science of creating false perceptions and misleading the senses. It delves into the techniques of misdirection, sleight-of-hand, and the clever manipulation of objects and expectations to achieve seemingly impossible feats. The book teaches how to exploit human psychology to generate wonder.

Social Entertainment and Connection

This theme highlights the primary purpose of parlor tricks: to entertain and foster social interaction within a group setting. The book is designed to equip individuals with skills that can enliven gatherings, provide amusement, and create shared moments of wonder and laughter, strengthening social bonds through shared experience.

A line worth noting
"The true art of the parlor magician lies not merely in the trick, but in the delightful deception of the audience's expectation."
A good discussion starter

How does the book reflect the social customs and entertainment preferences of the late 19th century?

Unlock the full reading guide

See chapter-by-chapter takeaways, deeper character arcs, and a fuller literary analysis built around this book.

Unlock full AI analysis for “Book of parlor tricks: How to perform them

Chapter breakdowns, character deep-dives, and thematic analysis — all in one place.

Reader Reviews

See what others are saying

Reviews

Overall Rating

4.5
2105 ratings

Based on community ratings

No reviews yet

Be the first to review this book!

Readers Also Enjoyed

Discover more books similar to Book of parlor tricks: How to perform them