Davenport Story Vol 3 - The Life and Times of a Magical Family, 1939-2010 by Fergus Roy.

The second volume of the Davenport family's story started where it could have ended, at the onset of World War II. Conscription, bombings, crippling shortages and the real threat of invasion all conspired to end the family's dreams of continuing the business they loved. Luckily, Dame Fortune chose one man to pull the company through those testing years: Gilly Davenport.

This, the third volume in this century-long tale recounts how he overcame the horrors of the war, government bureaucracy and restrictions to ensure the businesses survived yet at the same time cared for the family

However, the story is not just about the business, it is also about what the family is passionate about - magic. Readers are taken through magic's stages of change to the present, and on the way, meet the leading players. As the family knew the stars who performed in Britain, they also knew their secrets. The Davenport Story Volume 3 includes detailed information and descriptions of John Calvert's acclaimed debut in London in 1952 and Kio's show which baffled leading magicians (but not Gilly).

Other secrets such as Sorcar's Cut & Restored Tongue and Gus Davenports never-before-seen close up show which amazed Jay Marshall are carefully recorded, some here for the first time.

536 pages, hard bound, with color dust cover and over 600 illustrations, including color plates.