George Arnold

author

George Arnold

1834–1865

A lively 19th-century American poet and humorist, he moved from painting to writing and became known for his magazine work and his memorable comic verse. His best-known poem, "The Jolly Old Pedagogue," helped keep his name alive long after his short life ended.

1 Audiobook

The Magician's Own Book, or, the Whole Art of Conjuring Being a complete hand-book of parlor magic, and containing over one thousand optical, chemical, mechanical, magnetical, and magical experiments, amusing transmutations, astonishing sleights and subtleties, celebrated card deceptions, ingenious tricks with numbers, curious and entertaining puzzles, together with all the most noted tricks of modern performers.

The Magician's Own Book, or, the Whole Art of Conjuring Being a complete hand-book of parlor magic, and containing over one thousand optical, chemical, mechanical, magnetical, and magical experiments, amusing transmutations, astonishing sleights and subtleties, celebrated card deceptions, ingenious tricks with numbers, curious and entertaining puzzles, together with all the most noted tricks of modern performers.

by George Arnold, Frank Cahill

About the author

Born in New York City in 1834, George Arnold first hoped to become a portrait painter before turning to literature instead. He became a popular American writer, poet, and journalist, contributing to publications such as Vanity Fair and The Leader and writing under the pen name "McArone".

Arnold was part of the lively New York literary scene of his day and is often remembered as a contemporary of Walt Whitman. His work ranged from poems and humorous sketches to prose, but he is especially associated with the comic poem The Jolly Old Pedagogue, which remained his most widely recognized piece.

His life was brief—he died in 1865 at just 31—but his mix of wit, charm, and literary energy gives his writing an enduring appeal for readers interested in 19th-century American letters.