The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick

Synopsis of The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick

«The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick» is Peter Lamont's history essay, published by Abacus in paperback (288 pages, in English).

Peter Lamont dismantles the supposed ancient origin of the Indian rope trick: it was born as a hoax in the Chicago Tribune in 1890. The essay explores Victorian society and its fascination with the Orient, and follows those who traveled to India claiming to have seen it, to show how a legend can perpetuate itself.

The subtitle on the cover is «How a Spectacular Hoax Became History».

For readers interested in Victorian history, magic and urban legends.