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LINKING RINGS. William W. Durbin and the Magic and Mystery of America
by Robenalt, James D
- Used
- Hardcover
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- A near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket
- ISBN 10
- 0873388208
- ISBN 13
- 9780873388207
- Seller
-
Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Kent/London: Kent State University Press, 2004. First edition. Hardcover. A near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket. Inscribed by James D. Robenalt on the half-title page. "So how to tell of the life of a magician whose vocation was politics? A simple biography was out of the question. All of the hard research led to an idea. Why not travel back in time for one night to meet the old wizard himself in a car ride that actually did take place at the end of his life? Once there, he could tell his story directly to one of his descendants--a transference of family memories that just may have had national significance. Surely a magician could accomplish such a meeting." --from the Preface David Copperfield had this to say about Linking Rings. William W. Durbin, businessman, political activist, and professional magician, was a major figure in Ohio politics during the first half of the twentieth century, serving as the powerful head of the Ohio Democratic Party and as a senior official in the U.S. Treasury under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Durbin's story is that of a political maverick who knew how to manipulate behind-the-scenes activities, especially in Ohio's political arena. He was instrumental in William Jennings Bryan's near-defeat of William McKinley in Ohio, and two decades later he helped Woodrow Wilson reach the White House. Although Durbin's vocation was politics, his passion was magic. One of the nation's premier magicians, who performed on stage as "The Past Master of the Black Art," he was the first elected president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, a professional organization that has grown since its first convention in Kenton, Ohio, in 1926 to number more than 15,000 members today. Imaginatively told and thoroughly researched, Linking Rings is an engaging biography narrated by James D. Robenalt, Durbin's great-grandson, who places himself with Durbin in a long car ride back to Ohio from Washington, D.C., in February 1937. Fans of magic and those interested in political history will find Linking Rings an engrossing read. 315 pages with index. Illustrated from photographs.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Ed Smith Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 15411
- Title
- LINKING RINGS. William W. Durbin and the Magic and Mystery of America
- Author
- Robenalt, James D
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - A near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition
- ISBN 10
- 0873388208
- ISBN 13
- 9780873388207
- Publisher
- Kent State University Press
- Place of Publication
- Kent/London
- Date Published
- 2004
- Keywords
- Democratic Party, Ohio, politics and government 1933-1945, magicians, Kenton Ohio, William W Durbin
Terms of Sale
Ed Smith Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Ed Smith Books
Biblio member since 2009
Bainbridge Island, Washington
About Ed Smith Books
Ed Smith Books specializes in better condition modern literary first editions, signed books, photographic monographs, screen and theater related material and pop culture. We offer appraisals for books and photographs. We are located a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle, WA on Bainbridge Island. Since 1985 (ABAA since 1995). Two authors we specialize in are Charles Bukowski and Hunter S Thompson. Open by appointment.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Inscribed
- When a book is described as being inscribed, it indicates that a short note written by the author or a previous owner has been...