Unpublished Houdini book by William Rauscher will appear in 2026

One of the exciting pieces of news to come out of the 99th anniversary celebrations was Thomas Ewing's announcement that next year he and David Haversat's 1878 Press will publish a hitherto unknown Houdini manuscript by the late William V. Rauscher. The book is called Houdini Revealed and was written by Rev. Rauscher in the 1990s. Here's a preview:

How did Houdini become the magical folk hero, the symbol of escape from the chains of oppression, poverty and rejection? What circumstances brought him into the final spotlight of world prominence? What was the force behind his aggressive personality? Can we really understand the mind of the driven master mystifier? In exhausting efforts to sculpture his own image, did he leave us the mystery of himself?

You are invited to journey back in time, to a different way of life to grow up living as he did, searching for opportunity in an era we may have forgotten. His countless escapes and magic tricks on and off stage were but the surface of a whole world of happenings. We may never know all the hidden side of Houdini’s mind but in this book, I will attempt to reveal some workings of his inner self.

Houdini Revealed joins a growing list of new Houdini books scheduled or released for 2026 (12 by my current count). It's going to be a big year!

Related:

• William V. Rauscher (1932-2024)
• William Rauscher's Hardeen book released
• Guest blog: William V. Rauscher on Houdini and the Hippodrome