Harry Houdini is still the world's most famous magician --- thanks to his inventive tricks, death-defying stunts and incredible talent for publicity. He claimed he could escape from anything! The immigrant son of a rabbi, Harry overcame grueling poverty to become a one-man phenomenon, wowing audiences around the world.

Harry happily hung upside down from skyscrapers, leapt into rivers in chains and survived in an airless coffin --- but driving a car made him nervous. He also starred in six Hollywood movies, some still available on video. This biography in the Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History series introduces young readers to the multitalented, mysterious and contradictory man behind the tricks, escapes and dangerous feats.

 

There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 2005 by Kids Can Press .

Elizabeth MacLeod is a prolific author of non-fiction books for children, including "Bones Never Lie" and the Red Maple Award-winning "Royal Murder. " She lives in Toronto.