Dai Vernon:  A Biography--Artist - Magician - Muse (Vol. 1: 1894-1941)
"The joy of the book comes from the quixotic quest at the root of Vernon s life. In an age when mediocrity and acquiescence to the banal is the norm, Vernon s relentless pursuit of perfection is invigorating. David Ben --perhaps because he shares the inclination -- details every step and misstep in this regard. He admires Vernon, but makes no excuses for his poor performance as a husband and father. Instead, he makes us understand that there is a universe of ideas and ideals -- we refer to it as  'magic', here on our little planet -- that some people find endlessly enchanting." ---Paul Quarrington, Books in Canada, April, 2007