author
Ellis Stanyon
1870–1951
A hands-on magician, teacher, and publisher, he helped bring conjuring to a wide audience in the late Victorian and Edwardian era. Best known for practical books and periodicals on sleight of hand, he wrote with the clear, direct style of someone who actually performed the tricks himself.
1 Audiobook
About the author
William Ellis Stanyon (January 1870 – September 1951) was a professional magician and magic dealer based in London. Reliable reference pages agree that he worked not only as a performer but also as a writer and publisher, which helps explain why his name still turns up so often in classic books on conjuring.
He is especially remembered for making magic feel learnable. His books and serial publications focused on explaining methods clearly and plainly, and his work circulated widely enough that modern library and archive catalogs still preserve many of his titles, including manuals on card tricks and general magic.
For listeners interested in the history of performance, Stanyon sits at an appealing crossroads: part stage magician, part teacher, and part early specialist publisher. His writing captures a moment when magic was becoming something enthusiasts could study at home as well as watch from the audience.