I never would have known a thing about this book till I saw a little article announcing that Benedict Cumberbatch would be starring in it. I knew nothing of it, but s a fan of the actor, and knowing that he has a tendency for picking interesting, intelligent characters, I did what I always try to do with his films: seek out the book.
Immediately I was dismayed to find the book to be fairly rare and expensive. No, my hopes were dashed! So I put it in my wishlist and somewhat forgot about it. It was was several weeks later at my work I was doing a security check through the book sale room and there it was, nondescript spine and gild letters shining on the Sci-Fi shelf! Needless to say, I nabbed it and got it for a whopping 25 cents.
As I said, I had absolutely no idea what this book was about. I found it in the scifi section, and with it having no cover art or blurb on the back, I could only assume it was similar to "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell", quite simply, a magician going to war.
And, as stupid as I feel now, I believed that for about 50 pages into the book. I found it to be a factual WWII novel, and I was simply waiting for the magic to begin. Only when I accidentally flipped to the front and saw this beautiful face did I finally realise just what I had. And I became amazed.
So, enough rambling about HOW I discovered this wonderful novel. Let me tell you a bit about it.
This is the story about a stage magician named Jasper Maskelyne. He was fairly famous in London, came from a line of other magicians, and, when the war started, he felt--as many men did--that calling to do something. Jasper was convinced that his skills in illusion could turn the tide of the war.
Naturally, most of the top brass thought he was nuts and didn't want much to do with a man who was famous for being in films and sawing people in half. However, Jasper kept it up and was, eventually, assigned to a unit of camouflage. After proving himself in bootcamp, he was moved to Egypt, which would become his playground.
This book is incredible, I don't know how to stress that enough without spoiling it. As a big fan of the war movie "Kelly's Heroes" , this book is everything I could want. It shows a side of war that isn't so dark, it shows the sort of group of boys out there, not knowing what the hell they're doing, but making the most of it. The main characters in War Magician are a group of misfits--including an artist, burglar, bird expert and mechanic--who could not fit into the army anywhere else. They made their own rules, they were creators, thinkers, jokers. And they invent.
Given an area called "Magic Valley" Jasper's "Magic Gang" created some of the most amazing--and life saving illusions and inventions during the war. From hiding entire harbours, to building armies of dummy soldiers to creating "light rays" to confuse planes, this group of oddballs managed something marvelous--something magical.
I think this story is so important simply because no one knows it. I have loaned this book out to people--and they in turn have loaned it out to others--and everyone who has read it has said it is the most unique and amazing story they have ever read. It is beautifully written--like a novel, thus my initial confusion--but still provides factual information in a way few non-fiction novels manage. It made me laugh, numerous times, it made me cry. I fell in love with all of the characters, and cherish them now.
If I could recommend any book to you, this is the one. These men created something incredible and no one knows their names. Hopefully, when the film comes out, that will change. Until then, read about these wonderful men who served--and died--for freedom.
