“This is one of the major, original card magic books of the century to be considered alongside Expert Card Technique, The Royal Road to Card Magic and Erdnase that must be required reading and have a permanent place on any card worker's bookshelf. Guy Hollingworth has taken us back to the great days of card magic in an echo of the work of Nate Leipzig, Paul Le Paul, Charlie Miller and Dai Vernon.” Jack Avis and John Derris, Abra
“This is the perfect magic book.” Andi Gladwin
This is an important book and a true delight to read. Anthony Owen, The Magic Circular
Drawing Room Deceptions is one of the best books of the year [1999], and I highly recommend it. Mike Close, Magic Magazine
When Drawing Room Deceptions was first published, it became one of the fastest-selling magic books in history. It earned awards, rave reviews, and a permanent place on the short list of books serious magicians recommend. We try pretty hard to avoid hyperbole, especially when talking about magic books. So when we say this is one of the most influential card magic books ever published, we mean it.
It was written by a young Guy Hollingworth: an English magician with impeccable technique, a sharply original creative voice, and material that looked unlike anything anyone else was doing at the time. In short, his magic was elegant, visual, technically groundbreaking, and oh-so-very posh.
After years of being out of print, Vanishing Inc. worked directly with Guy Hollingworth and Mike Caveney’s Magic Words to co-produce a new edition of Drawing Room Deceptions.
Inside this truly groundbreaking book, you’ll discover routines that helped shape modern card magic, including:
- “Waving the Aces,” Guy’s iconic stand-up handling of Vernon’s “Twisting the Aces” that went on to become a classic of parlor magic.
- “Ambidextrous Interchange,” one of the most technically astonishing transposition routines we’ve seen.
- “The Cassandra Quandary,” a devastating prediction effect with an intriguing premise that inspired countless variations from everyone from Joshua Jay to Luke Jermay.
- “A Triumph Routine,” which features Guy’s legendary in-the-hands false riffle shuffle.
- A three-phase Card Under Box routine that is designed to be performed without much table space.
- And, of course, “The Reformation,” a signed torn and restored card that uses no gimmicks, and is undoubtedly one of the best solutions to the plot.
But this is only a fraction of what’s inside. Lovers of hard-core sleight of hand will pore over “The Interval,” a collection of some of the most incredible passes we’ve ever seen. If you’re a fan of gambling demonstrations, Guy’s aptly named “A Gambling Routine” is one of the best versions in print and is easier than many similar routines. And how could we forget the “Universal Card Scam,” a method so good that it can be used for an impossible Any Card at Any Number, Card Stab, and much more.
Outside of the material, Drawing Room Deceptions is one of the most entertaining magic books you’ll read. Written, illustrated, and designed entirely by himself, every one of the 311 pages reflects Guy’s sense of style and character. It was even designed to resemble a nineteenth-century magic text, with Victorian-inspired typography and over 150 hand-drawn illustrations by Guy himself.
What is different about the expanded edition?
This new Vanishing Inc. Edition features an updated aesthetic to mirror the look of Guy’s More Drawing Room Deceptions. It features a luxurious deep red cover with Guy’s original cover design and gold accents. You’ll also find an extra chapter written over twenty-five years after the original book, where Guy looks back on the material and how it’s changed over time.
