Carter Beats the Devil | Carter Beats the Devil

At a glance:

Author: Glen David Gold
First Published: 2001
Type of Work: Novel
Time of Work: 1888-1924
Setting: San Francisco and Oakland, California
Principal Characters: Charles Carter, James Carter, Sarah Annabelle Bernhardt, Mysterioso, Ledocq, Philo Farnsworth, Borax Smith, Jack Griffin, Phoebe Kyle
Genres: Long fiction, Domestic realism, Roman à clef
Subjects: Magic or magicians, Love or romance, Twentieth century, Escapes, Nineteenth century, California, Mysteries, San Francisco, Television or television broadcasting, Devils or demons, Presidents, Inventions or inventors, Secret service, Vaudeville
Locales: San Francisco, CA

Historical and fictional details, characters, and events are skillfully blended in Carter Beats the Devil, making this story of a magician’s life something akin to a magic trick in itself. Amidst a murder mystery, two romances, and several subplots, the reader is constantly moved to wonder how much of the story is factual and how much the novelist’s creation. Gold’s novel takes an ambitious look at turn-of-the-century American entertainment, incorporating historical figures such as the Marx Brothers, the magician Harry Houdini, and the inventor Philo Farnsworth, along with...

Carter Beats the Devil | Carter Beats the Devil

At a glance:

Join eNotes