Happy Birthday Professor Hoffmann

 On July 23, 1839, Angelo John Lewis—the man who would become famous throughout the magic world as Professor Hoffmann—was born in London, England.

Although Lewis studied law at Oxford University and became a barrister, his lasting legacy would come from his fascination with magic and his ability to explain the art clearly through the written word.

The Book That Changed Magic

In 1876, Professor Hoffmann published Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring. The groundbreaking book covered everything from card and coin magic to cups and balls, handkerchief tricks, stage illusions, show construction and the proper presentation of magic.

At a time when aspiring magicians often had to rely on personal instruction, scattered pamphlets or closely guarded secrets, Modern Magic provided an organized course in conjuring that readers could study at home.

The book became enormously successful and was followed by other important works, including More Magic, Later Magic and Latest Magic. Together, Hoffmann’s writings helped establish the format that countless magic books and courses would follow in the decades ahead.

The International Brotherhood of Magicians describes Modern Magic as “the book that first opened the curtain on the art of conjuring for generations of magicians.” The organization has even released a special reproduction of the historic book.

Teacher or Exposer?

Professor Hoffmann’s work was not welcomed by everyone.

Some magicians believed that publishing detailed explanations of magical methods exposed too many closely guarded secrets. Others recognized that his books helped preserve important knowledge while inspiring new generations of performers.

Regardless of which side of the argument magicians took, there is no denying the enormous influence Hoffmann had on the development of modern magic literature.

His books would inspire generations of magicians, including some of the biggest names from magic’s Golden Age. The lessons he published nearly 150 years ago continue to be studied by magicians, collectors and magic historians today.

Professor Hoffmann’s Lasting Legacy

Professor Hoffmann died in 1919, but his work remains an important part of magic history. He helped transform magical instruction from an often-secretive oral tradition into a carefully organized body of written knowledge.

Every magician who has learned a sleight, routine or performance principle from a book owes at least a small debt to the path Professor Hoffmann helped create.

Today, on the anniversary of his birth, we remember Professor Hoffmann—a lawyer, magician and author whose writing forever changed how the secrets and traditions of magic were passed from one generation to the next.