Spectacle de magie avec Houdini

I loved how the book brought magic to life, but I wonder if the author was inspired by specific illusions or Houdini's real performances.

The book managed to entertain while teaching some cool magic facts. Did others feel it sparked their curiosity about magic or Houdini himself?

Houdini is mostly known for his escapes, but here he's portrayed as a kind of magical hero. Wondering what led to that creative choice.