The War Magician: The man who conjured victory in the desert - Hardcover

Fisher, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0297846353 ISBN 13: 9780297846352

Publisher: Orion, 2004

Synopsis

Jasper Maskelyne was a world famous magician and illusionist in the 1930s. When war broke out, he volunteered his services to the British Army and was sent to Egypt where the desert war had just begun. He used his skills to save the vital port of Alexandria from German bombers and to 'hide' the Suez Canal from them. He invented all sorts of camouflage methods to make trucks look like tanks and vice versa. On Malta he developed 'the world's first portable holes': fake bomb craters used to fool the Germans into thinking they had hit their targets. His war culminated in the brilliant deception plan that won the Battle of El Alamein: the creation of an entire dummy army in the middle of the desert.

About this title

Review:

'Right from his memorable opening line [Fisher] shows a sure touch... a richly entertaining read.' -- THE SUNDAY TIMES

'This is one of those books that once you start, you can't give up... a fascinating read' -- REGIMENT

'a remarkable tale, delightfully told.' -- SOLDIER magazine

Book Description:

The story of the greatest illusionist of modern times and the man who conjured victory in the desert - to be made into a film starring Tom Cruise

About this edition

• Publisher: Orion
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0297846353
• ISBN 13: 9780297846352
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320