Wednesday, March 4, 2026

The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf 📚


This year marks the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death. This year will also see a record number of new Houdini books (including my own). So I thought I'd keep a running tally of printed books and update this post with each new release. Here is what we have so far:

📘 Houdini & Me 2026 by Trudy Monti
Released at the end of 2025, this is Trudy Monti's latest magic journal and the second devoted to Houdini. Chronicle your days throughout this centennial year alongside select Houdini trivia. Amazon

📗 Kinema Comic 1922 (Jul-Dec) The Amazing Exploits of HOUDINI by Joe Notaro and Arthur Moses
The latest volume from Joe Notaro and Arthur Moses collecting Houdini's "Amazing Exploits" stories from the British Kinema Comic. Some of these tales are a real hoot, and the illustrations are dynamic. Amazon

📙 I Want to be Like HOUDINI! by Kent Cummins
Magician Kent Cummins tells his own life story alongside tales of the Handcuff King. A short but enjoyable magical memoir. Amazon, LikeHoudini.com.

📕 Houdini’s Library by Barb Rosenstock
The story of how Houdini was shaped by his love of books. A very well-done book for kids illustrated by Mar Delmar. And how about that dedication? You can read the author's own story of how this book was made HERE. Amazon, Bookshop.

📗 Margery & Me by Maryka Biaggio
New historical fiction novel by Maryka Biaggio. The "me" in the title is Walter! Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Regal House Publishing.

📘 Exposing Houdini by Charles Greene III
A remarkable collection of 52 long-lost glass plate images of Houdini, researched by magic historian supreme Charles Greene III. Who doesn't love unpublished photos! ioniasecrets.com

📕 A Strenuous Career by Bruce Averbook M.D. and David Haversat
Houdini's original challenged scrapbook is reproduced page for page as a beautiful slipcased hardcover book. Only 300 copies printed. 1878 Press Co. 

📗 Houdini: The Last Escape by Marc Casellato
An Italian language look at the exploits of Houdini by magician Marc Casellato. Amazon

📙 Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice by Larrian Gillespie, M.D. 
Houdini's life and death are examined by a medical detective. The truth dropped on July 1st. Houdini True Crimes. Amazon.com.

📘 Houdini's Library: Inside the Spellbinding Collections of the Great Illusionist by Dr. Eric Colleary
A monumental work about Houdini's collections, illustrated with over 700 images. Companion book to the ongoing exhibition at the Harry Ransom Center of the same name. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk

📕 The Houdini Research Files: Harry Houdini in Hull, 1903–1920 by Roger K. Noble
The history of Houdini in Hull, England, published by the Carnegie Heritage Center.

📗 Hunting Houdini's Ghost by Janson Davies
A Houdini Seance gone wrong! Let's be careful out there. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk

📙 I Am Houdini: A Script by Sher'ril Knox
A "fictionalized historical drama inspired by the life, words, relationships, performances, investigations, and final years of Harry Houdini." 77 pages. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk

📕 The Magical Manacles by Aldo de Pape (Author), Bianca Tulea (Illustrator)
Houdini kicks off the Bright Star Bazaar series of books about forgotten objects that changed the course of history. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Bright Star Bazaar

📘 Houdini and the Promise of Youth by Jef Stevens
A new book exploring "Houdini’s fascination with rejuvenation, the possibility of a private operation, and the unanswered questions surrounding his death." Amazon.com

📗 Houdini & Me 2026 Chronicles by Trudy Monti 
Trudy is back with a collection of over 400 articles chronicling Houdini's incredible career. Amazon.com

📙 The Houdini Coloring Book: 100th Centennial 1926-2026 by Dean Carnegie
A Houdini coloring book for kids and adults by The Magic Detective himself. Amazon.com

📕 Houdini Unlocked: The Master Magician as Marketing King by Brian J. Robb
This new study explores Houdini's unique life and position as both escapologist and marketing extraordinaire. UK release October 22. Amazon.co.uk U.S. release in July 6, 2027. Amazon.com

📘 Metamorphosis: Houdini in Woonsocket, Rhode Island by Gregory Duhamel
This book by award-winning cemetery conservator, local historian and author Gregory Duhamel explores Houdini's historic visits to Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Amazon

📗 Houdini Revealed: His Life and The Way The World Was: 1874–1905 by William V. Rauscher
David Haversat's 1878 Press will publish a hitherto unknown Houdini manuscript by the late William V. Rauscher. Available November 10. 1878 Press 

AND

📙  Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909 by John Cox
The first volume in my Ultimate Houdini Chronology series explores the dynamic early years of Houdini's breakout fame across Europe and America. Featuring details of every known engagement in every country where he performed, this volume also provides in-depth examinations of the defining events of the decade. Hardcover and Premium Edition. Pre-orders begin November 16. Wild About Harry Press

If you have a Houdini book coming out this year, let me know!

31 comments:

  1. Reminds me of all the new and reprinted Houdini-related books that came out in 1976, with the TV film, "The Great Houdinis", following.
    Diego Domingo

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    1. Yes, very much like the 50th. But less reprints (if any) and many more new books.

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    2. BTW, if we get reprints, I'll list those as well. But they need to be real. Not public domain print-on-demand stuff.

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    3. There are bootleg copies of Gresham's bio on HH sold online...it may be that only, "Nightmare Alley" has been kept out of public domain by the Greshham family.
      Some feel a special set of Gresham's other books, "Houdini", "Monster Midway", and "Limbo Tower", could do well.

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    4. I would love a proper reprint of Gresham. But with an introduction that sets it within it's context because there's a fair amount of mythology in there.

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    5. And in the Kellock book. Any reprints of both should have annotations.

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  2. John Cox will have to spend 3 years in the UK and Europe to get more Houdini and Hardeen information after the big Houdini book comes out. It's pretty amazing to still discover tidbits of the H men after all these years.

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    1. It's amazing how much international info I've gathered without having to travel overseas. But so many HH sites I'd love to visit someday.

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  3. Besides John and Brian's (HRC) books, what are we expecting?

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    1. You mean Eric (HRC)? There are others, but not all have been announced. Remember the Challenge Scrapbook from Dr. Averbook and David Haversat? That's one I'm VERY excited about.

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    2. Sorry--I meant Eric. The Challenge Scrapbook slipped by me but now you jogged the noggin.

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  4. How exciting to see this year's publications tallying up. Can't wait for your book!!! I can say that Houdini's Library is sumptuously illustrated and a truly lovely children's book. I think Harry would get a kick out of his love of books and learning being centered and held up as encouragement to generations of kids and beyond :)

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    1. Houdini would indeed love that book. And, remember, we're getting the adult version from Eric Colleary in August!

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  5. By popular demand, I've added a list of upcoming books that can be pre-ordered.

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  6. A lot of great things happening. Another Houdini Unlocked? For a moment I thought it was maybe a soft back edition of Culliton's two book set.

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  7. Are there any books that mention a lot about Jim Collins?

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    1. The major biographies all mention him, but you won't find a lot written about him in any book. At least I can't think of one. He enters the story near the end of my first chronology book.

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    2. In my book, Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice I have additional information on Collins and many others including H. Elliott Stuckel and Sophie Rosenblatt that will surprise you. The book is also available for pre-order on CipherHouseBooks.com.

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    3. In my book Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice, I have much more information on Collins and others, like H. Elliott Stuckel and Sophia Rosenblatt that will surprise you. The book is available for preorder on CipherHouseBooks.com

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    4. Looking forward to it! I know almost nothing about Stuckel.

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  8. Leo -- I accidentally deleted your comment. But, yes, Charles's book does look incredible. I'll be doing a post on it this week.

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    1. Wonderful! I look forward to your post. I'm trembling with anticipation for this book! Houdini and the Beatles are the gifts that keep on giving! I'm also eager to read Dr. Gillespie's medical book on Harry's demise. It's a hurricane of Houdini books!

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  9. I am a Houdiniphile in UK and sadly we seem to be at a disadvantage when it comes to getting hold of books ( not only silly shipping costs!). I have tried to pre order Gillespie book but the websites say UK is a prohibited area so I cant order. Any advice gratefully received!

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    1. This is a HUGE problem, and I'm looking for solutions for my own books. The cost of shipping is as much or more than the book. I believe Charles is sending some stock of his book to collectingmagicbooks.com. They carried Escaping Obscurity as well. Larrian's book shouldn't be as expensive to ship. Don't know what "prohibited" means in her case. But she may chime in here. If you have a friend in the US, you could have them buy it and then ship it to you. I've done things like that. Let's hear ideas!

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    2. good to know this is a recognised problem as that increases chance of solutions being found. I have been asked 30 dollars to ship a postcard! And yes I too have bought books at a price less than the shipping. It's what you have to do if you really want the book but that doesnt make it right or fair. Collectingmagicbooks is an extremely well respected outlet in UK so if they can help get round the problem that would benefit everone. Larrian has kindly been in touch regarding that book. Is the problem the same the other way round ie getting English books to US?

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    3. Charles Greene - Author of Exposing HoudiniJune 22, 2026 at 6:51 AM

      Yes. Shipping individual books from the USA to Europe is a logistical and expensive proposition. For all of my book, Exposing Houdini, The Completer History of Friedlander Lithography, and Ionia - Magician Princess Secrets Unlocked, I've made an arrangement with Philip David Treece of collectingmagicbooks.com as my exclusive European agent and distributor. If you want one of my books, please contact him. BTW - I'll be speaker at the 2027 European Magic History Conference in London. Hope to see you there.

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  10. You can preoorder my book from Cipher House Publications but it clearly states you have to use the contact form as shipping is charged for hardbacks. Paperbacks are POD through Books.by/cipher-house-books and the link is on the Shopfiy store CipherHouseBooks.com

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  11. Paperbacks have free shipping overseas

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  12. I think my Grandfather Nat Leigh may have been on the bill with Houdini - he certainly watched his act. I am wondering if there are any posters showing the bill please

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    Replies
    1. It was a different bill every week. Do you have any idea when your grandfather might have played with him or what theater?

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