This work is by Harry Houdini, and was an attempt, by him, to undermine the public reverence for the man regarded as the master of modern magic, Robert-Houdin. Initially enamored of him, even making his stage name from him by an adding an 'i' to it, Houdini felt that the Robert-Houdin family had slighted him and so wrote this work in an attempt to discredit the man. It backfired on him instead!