“Magic is an illusion—it is not what it seems. In 1942 Jasper Maskelyne, a member of one of the greatest families in magic, set out single-handedly to fool the Afrika Korps. Did they fall for it? More than one illusion was going on. An intriguing and little-known episode of WWII told with relish by David Fisher.” Christopher Priest, author of The Prestige
Description
Based on an extraordinary true story and soon to be a major film produced by and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The War Magician is the remarkable tale of the man who used the powers of illusion to fight the Nazis—and created the most remarkable feat of legerdemain since the Trojan Horse.
How an Illusionist Changed the Course of World War II
When England went to war against Hitler in 1939, it mobilized its entire military and industrial resources. But there was no place in that vast army for legendary stage magician Jasper Maskelyne, whose family was renowned for creating modern theatrical illusions. Maskelyne was determined to fight the Nazis using his only weapon: he intended to apply the techniques of popular magic to the battlefield. Initially ignored and ridiculed by the staid military leadership, he eventually cajoled his way into the Camouflage Section and was sent to the western desert, where he created a new type of warfare.
With his small group of artists, the Magic Gang, Maskelyne designed and developed ingenious weapons, then tricked the Desert Fox, General Rommel, and his fabled Afrika Korps into believing there were tanks and battleships where there were none, concealed the Suez Canal, and even successfully “moved” Alexandria harbor.
But it required all his skills to pull off perhaps the largest and most complex magic trick in history. As General Bernard Montgomery told Maskelyne on the eve of the Battle of El Alamein, “The entire war will turn on what happens here. What I am about to ask you to do is impossible. It can’t be done, but it must be done. I hope you’ve brought your magic wand with you.”
This is the fact-based story of the illusion that won the war in the desert.
Praise
“Magic is an illusion—it is not what it seems. In 1942 Jasper Maskelyne, a member of one of the greatest families in magic, set out single-handedly to fool the Afrika Korps. Did they fall for it? More than one illusion was going on. An intriguing and little-known episode of WWII told with relish by David Fisher.” Christopher Priest, author of The Prestige
“A richly entertaining read.” Sunday Times (London)
“A literally marvelous war tale, well told.” Foreign Affairs
“A remarkable tale, delightfully told.” Soldier magazine (UK)
“[Maskelyne’s] feats were deucedly clever, and the details of their contrivance are intriguing.” Kirkus Reviews
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Date | April 18, 2023 |
| Release Date Machine | 1681776000 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
Author Bio
David Fisher is the award-winning author of almost one hundred books, including twenty-six New York Times bestsellers. He has written works of nonfiction, fiction, reference, and humor and collaborated with legendary figures in a variety of fields, from Hall of Fame athletes to Nobel Prize–winning scientists. He lives in New York with his wife, Laura.
Narrator Bio
Alex Jennings is an award-winning narrator and actor of stage and screen. He has won more than ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actor, he enjoyed a highly successful run at the Old Vic in Too Clever by Half, for which he won an Olivier Award, the Drama Magazine Award, and the Plays and Players Award for Actor of the Year. He has also won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Peer Gynt. Among his numerous television credits are Inspector Alleyn, Hard Times, and Netflix’s award-winning series The Crown.
Overview
Based on an extraordinary true story and soon to be a major film produced by and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The War Magician is the remarkable tale of the man who used the powers of illusion to fight the Nazis—and created the most remarkable feat of legerdemain since the Trojan Horse.
How an Illusionist Changed the Course of World War II
When England went to war against Hitler in 1939, it mobilized its entire military and industrial resources. But there was no place in that vast army for legendary stage magician Jasper Maskelyne, whose family was renowned for creating modern theatrical illusions. Maskelyne was determined to fight the Nazis using his only weapon: he intended to apply the techniques of popular magic to the battlefield. Initially ignored and ridiculed by the staid military leadership, he eventually cajoled his way into the Camouflage Section and was sent to the western desert, where he created a new type of warfare.
With his small group of artists, the Magic Gang, Maskelyne designed and developed ingenious weapons, then tricked the Desert Fox, General Rommel, and his fabled Afrika Korps into believing there were tanks and battleships where there were none, concealed the Suez Canal, and even successfully “moved” Alexandria harbor.
But it required all his skills to pull off perhaps the largest and most complex magic trick in history. As General Bernard Montgomery told Maskelyne on the eve of the Battle of El Alamein, “The entire war will turn on what happens here. What I am about to ask you to do is impossible. It can’t be done, but it must be done. I hope you’ve brought your magic wand with you.”
This is the fact-based story of the illusion that won the war in the desert.