This book won the SAM Special Library Award. It details Martin Gardner's, Jeff Busby's, and Bart Whaley's search to uncover the person hiding behind the pseudonym S.W. Erdnase. It lays out in detail the case for Milton Franklin Andrews. It describes the life of Andrews, how he started with magic, and how he transitioned to become a card shark, including his travels around the world hustling and cheating to make a living.
A detailed analysis of Erdnase's likely sources and inspirations, as well as other information about the book, its reprints, and other pertinent information, will help every Erdnase researcher. It also includes a technical section explaining the Erdnase Grip and some new ideas for the Erdnase Bottom Deal.
While there are probably not many left who think Milton Franklin Andrews was S. W. Erdnase, this work continues to be a very important work of reference for historians.
It is, by itself, also a great true crime book, regardless of what you might make of the Erdnase connection it champions.
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: Rogue's Run
Chapter 2: The Last Hour
Chapter 3: The Man
Chapter 4: The Author
Chapter 5: On The Road With Bessie
Chapter 6: For The Love Of Nulda
Post Mortem
Chapter 7: Suicide Or Snuff?
Chapter 8: American Bluebeard?
The Magic Of Erdnase
Chapter 9: Personal Effects
Chapter 10: Sources & Inspirations
Chapter 11: Latter Day Methods & Myths
Chapter 12: The Hunt For Erdnase
Chapter 13: Questioned Documents
Chapter 14: Revelations
Chapter 15: A Case Of Identity
The Story Of A Bestseller
Chapter 16: Drake & Beyond
Chapter 17: Bookmen, Pirates & Ghosts
Conclusion: The Legacy
Afterword
Appendix A: Alibi Note To The Examiner
Appendix B: Alibi Note To The Chronicle
Bibliography
Colophon
