author
Henry Ridgely Evans
1861–1949
A journalist, amateur magician, and sharp-eyed skeptic, he wrote lively books that explored both the history of conjuring and the tricks behind fraudulent spiritualist claims. His work helped preserve magic’s past while making the subject approachable for general readers.
2 Audiobooks
Hours with the Ghosts or, Nineteenth Century Witchcraft Illustrated Investigations into the Phenomena of Spiritualism and Theosophy
by Henry Ridgely Evans
The Old and the New Magic
by Henry Ridgely Evans
About the author
Born in 1861, Henry Ridgely Evans was an American writer and journalist based in Baltimore who became especially known for his books on magic and illusion. Though not primarily a stage performer, he developed a lasting reputation as a careful historian of conjuring and a popular interpreter of the art for readers outside the profession.
Evans wrote about stage magic, famous magicians, and the long history of deception and wonder in performance. He also took a skeptical interest in spiritualism and theosophy, describing and exposing the methods used by fraudulent mediums. That mix of curiosity, showmanship, and investigation gave his work a distinctive voice.
Today he is remembered as one of the early writers who treated magic as a subject worth documenting seriously. Books such as The Old and the New Magic and Hours with the Ghosts helped introduce wide audiences to both the heritage of magic and the fine line between entertainment and imposture.