Carter Beats the Devil (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Glen David Gold
- First Published: 2001
- Type of Work: Novel
- Time of Work: 1888-1924
- Setting: San Francisco and Oakland, California
- Principal Characters: Charles Carter, James Carter, Sarah Annabelle Bernhardt, Mysterioso, Ledocq, Philo Farnsworth, Borax Smith, Jack Griffin, Phoebe Kyle
- Genres: Long fiction, Domestic realism, Roman à clef
- Subjects: Magic or magicians, Love or romance, Twentieth century, Escapes, Nineteenth century, California, Mysteries, San Francisco, Television or television broadcasting, Devils or demons, Presidents, Inventions or inventors, Secret service, Vaudeville
- Locales: San Francisco, CA
Historical and fictional details, characters, and events are skillfully blended in Carter Beats the Devil, making this story of a magician’s life something akin to a magic trick in itself. Amidst a murder mystery, two romances, and several subplots, the reader is constantly moved to wonder how much of the story is factual and how much the novelist’s creation. Gold’s novel takes an ambitious look at turn-of-the-century American entertainment, incorporating historical figures such as the Marx Brothers, the magician Harry Houdini, and the inventor Philo Farnsworth, along with...
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