Professor Hoffmann (real name Angelo Lewis) was considered to be one of the greatest authorities on the theory and practice of magic, despite his own limited professional experience as a magician. He imparted much of his wisdom and expertise in the art of magic through a series of four books: "Modern Magic" (1876), "More Magic" (1890), "Later Magic" (1903), and "Latest Magic" (1918), the first of which is best known.