Confessions of a Conjuror

Confessions of a Conjuror is, while in parts autobiographical, by no means a traditional autobiography. Structured around the performance of a card trick by his younger self in a Bristol restaurant, the book delights in veering off at tangents as and when something strikes Mr. Brown as worth expounding upon.

Thus we are steered through the quite fascinating recesses of Brown's mind. On the way we get philosophy, childhood memories, ticks and self loathing, the history of magic and the best recipe for Eggs Benedict. This makes for a very entertaining read.

Brown's style is conversational and he's never less than readable. Indeed at times he is quite profound, but always punctures any sense of self-import with a self-deprecating put down. Some of the anecdotes are laugh out loud funny.

Brown is never self-important and he comes across as a likeable, if eccentric, raconteur.