Eisenheim the Illusionist (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Steven Millhauser
- First Published: 1989
- Type of Plot: Fantasy
- Time of Work: The late nineteenth to early twentieth century
- Setting: Vienna, Austria
- Principal Characters: Eisenheim, Walter Uhl, Ernest Passauer, Benedetti
- Genres: Short fiction
- Subjects: Magic or magicians, Politics, Twentieth century, Nineteenth century, Art or artists, Reality, Fear, Jews or Jewish life, Fantasy, Hallucinations or illusions, Austria or Austrians, Western Europe or western Europeans
- Locales: Vienna, Austria
The Story
Despite the fantastic occurrences of its plot, “Eisenheim the Illusionist” is presented in the form of objective nonfiction, as a short biography of a mysterious character.
Little is known of the magician Eisenheim's origins, other than that he is the product of the late Austro-Hungarian Empire and its appetite for stage magic. Son of a gifted cabinetmaker, Eisenheim uses his skill at cabinetmaking in constructing the devices that allow him to achieve his earliest illusions. His appetite for magic can be traced to a meeting with an itinerant magician, and...
[The entire page is 1528 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
See Also
