Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7283 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 608 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
With romance, magic and science as its central themes, Glen David Gold's impressive debut Carter Beats The Devil is an inspired delight, a dazzling combination of fact and fiction. Charles Carter is given his stage name "Carter the Great" by the legendary Harry Houdini and the jazz age of the early 1900s is clearly well researched, yet the romance and strong cast of characters must owe more to the imagination than to history.

The novel begins in 1923 with the most daring performance of Carter's life. Unfortunately, two hours into the performance, US President Harding is dead and the magician must flee the country, pursued by the Secret Service. This is only an instalment in Carter's amazing life though as we are guided from his childhood, where both the family servant and a circus freak bullied him, to his rise to stardom and his eventual performance in front of the president. Subsequently, the protagonist is crippled by loneliness, widowed and hunted down by those who believe him a murderer and yet he rises again and again to delight and fulfil the highest expectations of his audience. The strong narrative and storyline make for a compelling read. And Carter is such a magical character that you cannot fail to be touched by him--loving whom he does and hating his enemies.

This is an ambitious and compulsive novel and deserves all the praise that Carter himself received and more. If you like this, you may also be interested in reading Michael Chabon's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay --Hannah Smith

Telegraph Summer Reading Paperback Fiction Choice
'An audaciously plotted and wonderfully camp adventure.'

Review
'Engaging, comical and, yes, magical, this is a sure-fire contender for the debut novel of the year.' (Christian House, Independent on Sunday )

'Mesmerising ... the plot turns a dazzling array of somersaults ... Savour its every page' (Graham Caveney, Independent )

'A top-hat-and-tails performance...suspenseful, compendious, moving and persuasive' (Michael Chabon )

'It's refreshing to see an author so obviously into his characters and debut novelist Glen David Gold radiates enthusiasm in his tale of magician Charles Carter, implicated in the death of 29th US president Warren Harding. What's most unbelievable about this stagey set-up is that it's based on actual events. The droll, good-natured narrative never stumbles over 600 pages and Gold's characters, the endearingly troubled Carter at the top of the bill, sit so naturally in the proceedings they positively seem to enjoy being part of his show. Encore please!' (The Face )

'A magnificent achievement. The plot is endlessly inventive and surprising and pulls the reader through some very complicated events in the most compelling way.’ (Charles Palliser )

‘An extraordinary story ... a daredevil feat of writing that will remind you how much fun reading can be’ (Helen Brown, Daily Telegraph )

'Brilliantly inventive and constantly surprising ... you're unlikely to read a better book this year.' (Eve )

'A stormer of a novel, this- the perfect read for people who despise airport blockbusters yet find themselves on aeroplanes longing for a good, meaty page turner' (The Guardian )

'With elements of the whodunnit and, crucially fo a book about magic tricks, the howdunnit, this is a four-course meal of a novel' (The Guardian )

'This pacy book rips along to a marvellous and truly unexpected denouement' (The Times )

'An enormously assured first novel' (New York Times )

'This is the curtain-raiser for an intricately structured feast of a novel...a wonderful swirling novel' (The Daily Telegraph )

'Spellbinding ... An inventively plotted novel that despite its size manages to surprise at every twist.' (Arena Summer Reading )

'Carter Beats the Devil is all the things a good novel should be ... A daredevil achievement. Bravo.' (Barbara Mella, What's on in London )

'An audaciously plotted and wonderfully camp adventure.' (Telegraph Summer Reading Paperback Fiction Choice )

'Carter Beats the Devil is a cracking murder mystery unfurling the genteel milleu' (The Times )

'This was many critics' choice for book of the year in 2001, and a first novel that's hard to fault. The plotting is so immaculate, and the themes of illusion and deception so well executed, it's utterly mesmerising.' (Shauna Bartlett, Glamour magazine )

'A rollicking good read.' (Mateen Kaul, Literary Review )

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable novel of the art of deception
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - although at 608 pages, it would have been even better for being a little shorter. Following Carter from an unusual upbringing to becoming a successful stage magician/illusionist is great fun and a great story - although it sometimes reminds you that fact is stranger than fiction and the tales of some of the real stage magicians/illusionists are even more remarkable ie Houdini, Chung Ling Soo etc.
Well written and a constantly engaging read. Recommended.

Magical!
When people ask you about the book you're reading and you tell them it's a fictitious account of the life of an early 20th century stage magician, the usual response is not for them to say "Really? You must tell me more!" But resembles much more a silent bewilderment at how boring you must be. At least, in my experience, and maybe because I'm not very good at making things sound exciting. But this really is a very good book indeed. Honest. It is funny, gripping and genuinely captivating. It's one of those books you sit down with the intention of reading for twenty minutes or so, then find four hours have magically disappeared into the ether. Charles Carter, the principal character, is depicted beautifully, as the book follows his life from a young boy with a book on magic and some paternally frowned upon dreams, to Carter the Great. It's really impossible to describe the story, with its array of characters and plot twists, I can only say it is a truly amazing story written in a beautiful, easy style, that captures you at the start and doesn't let you go, and may also make you go off and buy books on card and coin tricks. Hats off to Mr. Gold.

What would you do if you knew an awful secret?
I bought this book when I was feeling really down. Long train journey ahead, I thought it looked a thick and meaty read, somthing value for money. I don't usually go for books about 'magic', so was a little wary, but I thought what the heck. I'm glad I did.

The first third is tightly written and dark, but with a dash of humour that makes it difficult to supress a smile (especially when Carter explores his mothers bedroom). This opens the rest of the book beautifully.

Carter is a believable character, even though he is an unlikely hero- he's written in a very human way, given his profession and background. He could well have felt like a bit of a smart arse, but you feel his pain accutely, and share his joys and victories.

A book for easing you back to reality by drifting you into fantasy, lifting your spirits and learning to accept that you too can grab joy from the jaws of dispair. Thrilling and moving.