Hoffmann, Professor, 1839-1919

Professor Hoffmann (1839–1919) was a writer and author on magic in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His representative works are Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring and Latest Magic, Being Original Conjuring Tricks. The former gives a systematic account of the art of conjuring in the manner of a tutorial, emphasizing the principles of technique and their practical application; the latter consists mainly of original tricks and focuses on specific effects and performance design. Both books were addressed to readers wishing to learn magic and circulated widely in English-language magic literature; they are often cited by later enthusiasts and researchers. Because public information is limited, details of his life, nationality and exact identity remain unclear; this note is based only on the works recorded in the database and his dates, and concentrates on his subject matter and place in magic literature.