author
Herbert De Caston
1875–1930
A little-known early 20th-century writer on stage magic, remembered for a compact handbook packed with practical tricks and performance ideas. His work offers a lively glimpse into the world of conjuring as it was practiced and taught more than a century ago.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Very little biographical information about this author could be confirmed from reliable sources in this search. Herbert De Caston is known for Peerless Prestidigitation (1910), a short manual of magic effects and methods published in London by Hamley Brothers.
The book presents itself as a collection of new ideas in modern magic and notes help from "the leading South African magicians," which suggests a strong connection to the South African performance scene of the time. One secondary source also describes him as a semi-professional magician in Cape Town who performed a conjuring and juggling act, but because detailed independent confirmation was limited, that should be taken cautiously.
For listeners interested in classic entertainment history, De Caston is notable less for a fully documented life story than for the surviving charm of his book: brisk, practical, and clearly written for performers eager to astonish an audience.