A review by wyemu
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold

5.0

A fascinating fictionalised biography of a real life stage magician in an era when Houdini was still the master and had set the bar for illusionary standards. Starting with Charles Carter's most daring performance to date and then moving backwards in time to his early stage days when he was just a warm-up act this novel portrays him in all his genius and vulnerability. Expertly evoking his grief and guilt at his first wives death and his gradual coming to terms with it and return to the stage this book is never dull. With cameo appearances from Harry Houdini, who gave Carter his stage name Carter the Great, and the then US President Harding this novel is a detailed account of Carter's life on and off the stage.