When Harry Houdini died in 1926, he was one of the most famous men in the world. Having started out as a vaudeville magician, he soon began to specialise in the escapes for which his name remains a byword. In this classic biography, Ruth Brandon explains in detail the secrets of Houdini's most celebrated escapes, but more importantly she asks, 'What was Houdini really trying to escape from?' - And, searching for the answer, reveals a man far more extraordinary than any of his audience could have imagined.