Celebrations of Curious Characters

Celebrations of Curious Characters cracks open the personal vaults of Ricky Jay—raconteur, historian, and one of the world’s great sleight-of-hand artists—exposing a wonderful world of amusing and arcane knowledge. Adapted from his popular radio series “Jay’s Journal of the Air,” Celebrations of Curious Characters features one-page anecdotes of mind-bending performers (limbless jugglers, banjo-picking birds, Anglo-Texan saxophone-playing siamese twins) paired with engravings, mezzotints, and broadsheets from the author’s remarkable collection. You’ll find engaging vignettes on a daunting variety of topics: musical prodigies, cannon-ball catchers, conmen, card cheats, and performing politicians. Plus, a man who made a model of Lincoln Cathedral out of 1,000,800 bottle corks; a woman continuously pregnant for six-and-a-half years; a theatrical strong man who became the world’s leading Egyptologist; and a healthy number of digressions on time, money, and the argot of thieves.

For a bit more, check out the New Yorker's interview with Ricky Jay.

"Never, I repeat never, in the annals of entertainment has one man devoted himself more dutifully, studied more scrupulously, and documented so diligently these bizarre and astonishing feats of physical and mental derring-do than the man they call 'America's Scholar of the Unusual'—magician, author, bon vivant, raconteur, prestidigitator extraordinaire, and a personal friend to whom I no longer owe a favor—Ricky Jay."

—Steve Martin

Probably the greatest living practitioner in our field, Ricky Jay is the epitome of what those in our art should strive for. Nothing compromises his mysteries and he refuses to pander to the fraternity by releasing his secrets. Instead he gives us sorely needed texts on historical matters and fascinating individuals, as well as his public performances which represent the high water mark of magic performance.His books include Cards as Weapons, Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women, Jay’s Journal of Anomalies, Extraordinary Exhibitions, Dice: Deception, Fate, and Rotten Luck, Many Mysteries Unravelled, The Magic Magic Book, and Celebrations of Curious Characters. Many of his books should be readily available while others will be, perhaps purposefully,  quite difficult to find. Additionally, he has compiled a number of songs related to poker in Ricky Jay Plays Poker, an excellent purchase, as it includes a custom deck of cards as well as a DVD with many excellent demonstrations.In the theater, Mr. Jay has starred in the shows Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants, On the Stem, and A Rogue’s Gallery. All of these are excellent, and you should make every effort to see them should the opportunity present itself. The 52 Assistants show was broadcast on HBO at one point, so you may be able to view a recording of the show.Anything by or about Mr. Jay is heartily recommended. For a wonderful reading experience, visit his website and try to locate the article on him for the New Yorker. Fascinating material and you can do no better than to read the descriptions of how lay people describe his effects. This is how you want your magic described after you have left.