OME of the most intriguing bits in the biographies of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle concern the strange relationship he had with the great escape artist and magician Harry Houdini. The latter needs no introduction, I’m sure: the tales of his death-defying stunts still amaze and astonish today. But what fewer people realise is that Houdini took it upon himself to expose those tricksters and charlatans working as so-called “mediums,” who were swindling gullible and grief-stricken people seeking only to hear from their dearly departed relatives and friends once more. Of course, one may contrast this to Sir Arthur, one of the greatest champions of the Spiritualist cause, and consider the two an unlikely pairing. Yet, the two were friends, though a falling-out seemed inevitable.

One of my favourite online essays delves into this relationship, and how it began and ended. The fascinating piece called Houdini and Conan Doyle: The Story of a Strange Friendship is by Massimo Polidoro, and appears courtesy of Uno Studio in Holmes, the Florentine Holmes website.

They were both profoundly interested in the subject of Spiritualism; however, their views differed completely. Houdini was the skeptic, the exposer of psychic frauds; Doyle the believer, the St. Paul of Spiritualism. How could these two persons have become affectionated friends and then bitter enemies is a fascinating tale which deserves telling.

Curl up with a nice cup of tea or cocoa and read the rest. More information can be found at Doyle, Houdini and The Strand Magazine (BakerStreetDozen.com), and Polidoro’s own acclaimed book on the subject, Final Seance: The Strange Friendship Between Houdini and Conan Doyle.