Professor Hoffmann

Writing under the name Professor Hoffmann, Angelo John Lewis was an English barrister, amateur illusionist, and hugely influential author on magic. Born in London in 1839, he trained in law and practiced as a barrister, while also developing a deep interest in conjuring and recreational pastimes.

He became especially famous for books such as Modern Magic, More Magic, and Later Magic, which presented tricks, techniques, and stage methods in a clear, practical way. Those works helped organize magic instruction for English-speaking readers and made him one of the most important popularizers of conjuring in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Beyond magic, he also wrote about games, puzzles, and amusements, showing the same gift for explaining complex recreations simply and engagingly. He died in 1919, but his books remain closely associated with the foundations of modern magic literature.