Glorious Deception by Jim Steinmeyer

The Double Life of William Robinson, aka Chung Ling Soo, the Marvelous Chinese Conjurer

“I consider Jim the most brilliant mind in magic. He’s a very deep thinker, and he understands the psychology of magic and how to create wonder.” – Doug Henning

In this captivating biography, Jim Steinmeyer reveals the secrets of Chung Ling Soo, the “Marvelous Chinese Conjurer,” whose audacity made even Houdini seem ordinary. Soo’s shocking onstage death in 1918, during his act “Defying the Bullets,” left fellow magicians in disbelief. He was shot while attempting to catch marked bullets on a porcelain plate. Following his demise, the truth unraveled: he was not Chinese but William Ellsworth Robinson, a 58-year-old American and former magician’s assistant, who led a double life with a mistress and a second family near London.

This exploration delves into the gritty world of early 20th-century entertainment, the West’s fascination with Oriental culture, and Soo’s mysterious rise to fame. For the first time, the full story of Robinson’s life and the scandals surrounding his death are revealed, penned by the leading historian of magic’s rich legacy.