The Spectacle of Illusion: Deception, Magic and the Paranormal

Explore the techniques and tools behind magic and spiritualism: how illusionists and mediums deceived audiences worldwide—and the insights this offers to scientific study.

In The Spectacle of Illusion, Dr. Matthew L. Tompkins, a professional magician turned experimental psychologist, examines the history and practice of deception by mesmerists, magicians, and psychics from the early 18th century onward. Structured thematically along a roughly chronological path, this authoritative work reveals how illusions crafted by magicians and deceptive mystics not only mislead our senses but also illuminate the functioning of the human mind. The book traces the interplay between figures like John Nevil Maskelyne and Harry Houdini and the spiritualist movements they sought to expose, alongside the complex relationships between magicians, mystics, and scientists over two centuries. It uncovers instances where researchers investigating paranormal claims were themselves deceived, offering valuable lessons on the nature of deception. Richly illustrated with rare images from archives such as the Wellcome Collection and the Magic Circle, as well as original photography of artifacts like planchettes and spirit photographs, the volume concludes with a contemporary scientific analysis of phenomena including ideomotor action, sleep paralysis, and misdirection. This insightful study emphasizes the fallibility of human perception and its role in sustaining illusions.