A review by bent
The Last Greatest Magician in the World: Howard Thurston Versus Houdini & the Battles of the American Wizards by Jim Steinmeyer

4.0

An excellent book. Steinmeyer does a great job of making Thurston's story come to life. I went to an exhibit of vintage magician posters at the Art Gallery of Ontario which sparked my interest in this story, and I'm very glad that I followed up by reading this book. Steinmeyer doesn't make Thurston look any better than he was - an excellent magician with lots of flaws, but ultimately a great showman. It's hard to believe how rapidly the entertainment industry changed from Thurston's childhood to his death. Even if you're not that interested in magic I would recommend it as it makes for a fascinating read.