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Carter Beats the Devil | 
| Author: Glen David Gold
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Category: Book
Used (15) from £1.07
Avg. Customer Rating:  44 reviews
Sales Rank: 1028527
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 496
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.8 x 1.5
ISBN: 0786867345
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780786867349
ASIN: 0786867345
Publication Date: August 2001
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
With romance, magic and science as its central themes, Glen David Gold's impressive debut Carter Beats The Devil is an inspired delight, a dazzling combination of fact and fiction. Charles Carter is given his stage name "Carter the Great" by the legendary Harry Houdini and the jazz age of the early 1900s is clearly well researched, yet the romance and strong cast of characters must owe more to the imagination than to history. The novel begins in 1923 with the most daring performance of Carter's life. Unfortunately, two hours into the performance, US President Harding is dead and the magician must flee the country, pursued by the Secret Service. This is only an instalment in Carter's amazing life though as we are guided from his childhood, where both the family servant and a circus freak bullied him, to his rise to stardom and his eventual performance in front of the president. Subsequently, the protagonist is crippled by loneliness, widowed and hunted down by those who believe him a murderer and yet he rises again and again to delight and fulfil the highest expectations of his audience. The strong narrative and storyline make for a compelling read. And Carter is such a magical character that you cannot fail to be touched by him--loving whom he does and hating his enemies. This is an ambitious and compulsive novel and deserves all the praise that Carter himself received and more. If you like this, you may also be interested in reading Michael Chabon's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay --Hannah Smith
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| Customer Reviews: Read 39 more reviews...
 Enchanting! July 15, 2008
This book came to me from recommendation from another excellent read "Water for Elephants". I was desperate to get my hands on it, and went to 4 libraries to find it! I'm pleased to say that it was worth the effort as it really was amazing.
The book revolves around Charles Carter, a real magician, in the early 1900s which was intriguing as it makes regular reference to his actual magic tricks (as well as others such as Houdin and Houdini) and other events around this time.
The book changes focus about halfway through and evolves into a thriller, which I personally enjoyed. All-in-all this book was easy to read and thoroughly captivating. I highly recommend this book!
Superb May 21, 2008
This is an exceptional read. It is set by and large in the early 20th Century, in the world of theatre, the protaganist being the charasmatic magician Charles Carter. This novel blends fact with fiction, Charles Carter really did exist, with guest appearance from Houdini and other magicians of that time. It has magic, romance, murder, and it is so well written. What makes it even richer is the feeling that what you are reading must have been so well researched. The characters have real depth and are instantly imaginable. I only finished this book last night, but I can't imagine coming across a more satisfying read for some time to come.
 The Life of the Illusionist November 20, 2007
A very good book. Carter starts at the end, with President Harding's death in 1923 but then we go back to Carter's humble beginnings.
This is the story of a boy who seemed to have no great prospects but then went on to become one of the world's great illusionists, a Houdini type. A lovely view on vaudeville of the early 1900s including a family that sounds remarkably like the Marx Brothers.
Lots of intrigue, mystery and perhaps even skulduggery, yes it's that type of book!
Invigorating stuff! October 4, 2007
Having started and failed to finish quite a number of books of late - reader apathy more than anything else - I wondered across Carter Beats The Devil with certain trepdation. The book had long haunted me in Waterstones and in other book retailers by mysteriously appearing always in plain view - sometimes on promotional displays, sometimes just on a regular shelf but always with the front cover facing out. So after a number of years of taunting, I felt it was finally time to purchase. This was possible one of the best decisions I have made of late. This is a tremendous novel, of which I can genuinely say the phrase 'I could not put this down'. It has, unsuprisingly, followed me around even when not reading. I would not be surprised if I have dreamt of the characters and situations in this novel without my knowing. It is the kind of story that gets under the skin. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has 'novel fatigue' or, indeed, anyone who thinks they may have already read the best novels out there...if you haven't read Carter Beats The Devil, then you surely haven't read them all.
What a debut! July 30, 2007
I'd originally been put off reading this by the similarity of the artwork on the cover to that on Aberystwyth Mon Amour which I loathed. Sat at the Leeds Bookcrossing meet though when this book landed on the table I idly asked the question whether the two books were similar in content. Three very feisty 'this book totally rocks' reviews later I found myself taking it home. I read it while travelling over to Belgium and couldn't put it down, I almost missed the call for my flight as a result. It does indeed totally rock and although it is a bit Boys Own in places this is forgivable in what is such a talented first book. I loved the characters - Carter is provided with several foils which give his wit something to sharpen itself on beautifully - and the plot is well paced with several twists and turns. The action sequences are balanced by mysteries and dramatic dialogues that make you smile. Highly recommended, I'll buy whatever he writes next.
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