Books
THE MAN WHO INVENTED MOTION PICTURES (2022)
In 1888, Frenchman Louis Le Prince shot the world’s first motion picture. In 1890, he boarded a train in his home country and vanished — never to be seen again. Just a few months later, Thomas Edison announced “his” own groundbreaking motion picture device — one Le Prince’s family thought looked unsettlingly familiar…
The Man Who Invented Motion Pictures pulls back the curtain on Louis Le Prince’s life and work, dispelling the secrets that shroud each — and sheds light, for the first time, on his disappearance…
“A passionate, detailed defence of Louis Le Prince… unfurled with all the cliffhangers and red herrings of a scripted melodrama” — The New York Times Book Review
“Detailed and dramatic — a story of elusive images and unexplained death… The Man Who Invented Motion Pictures is an impressive piece of historical research” — The Times Literary Supplement
“Absorbing… bring[s] sharp forensic skills and a cool head to a narrative that has become hijacked by wild conspiracy theories” — The Sunday Times (UK)
“Mr. Fischer documents with the rigor of a historian and the flair of a true-crime writer” — The Wall Street Journal
“An absorbing tale, elegantly written and brilliantly told, with the plot twists and surprise ending worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster” — The Irish Times
“A fascinating, informative, skillfully articulated narrative of one of the forgotten figures in cinematic history” — Kirkus (starred review)
“Vivid character sketches, lyrical descriptions of the art and science of moviemaking, and a dramatic plot twist make this a must-read” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Combines firsthand accounts with dynamic writing to bring the Victorian era to life. A remarkable cast of characters (including Le Prince’s equally fascinating wife, Lizzie) makes for compelling reading” — Library Journal
“A captivating whodunit [and] a lens on the development of cinema itself… Briskly paced and elegant… Indisputably dramatic” — Harper’s Magazine
“Absorbing, forensic and jaw-dropping” — Total Film
“Partly a fascinating history, partly a surprisingly twisted whodunit, and entirely an insightful story of human intrigue” — Deborah Blum, Pulitzer-Prize winning author of The Poisoner’s Handbook
“A gripping tale that holds its own against any Hitchcockian thriller” — New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
“Meticulous and entertaining… persuasively solves the 130-year-old mystery of Le Prince’s disappearance and death. A terrific book” — Jill Jonnes, author of Empires of Light and Eiffel’s Tower
One of the New York Times Best True Crime of 2022
Coup de Coeur - American Library in Paris Book Award (2022)
A KIM JONG-IL PRODUCTION (2015)
Before becoming the world's most notorious dictator, Kim Jong-Il ran North Korea's film industry. He directed every film made in the country but knew they were nothing compared to Hollywood. Then he hit on the perfect solution: order the kidnapping of South Korea's most famous actress and her ex-husband, the country's most acclaimed director.
In a jaw-dropping mission the couple were kidnapped, held hostage and then 'employed' to make films for the Dear Leader, including a remake of Godzilla. They gained Kim's trust - but could they escape?
“Gripping and surprisingly timely” — The New York Times
“A stupefying, novelistic read” — The Boston Globe
“Gripping, absurd, harrowing” — Esquire
“Incredible…diamond-sharp on North Korea’s many, many paradoxes…a fascinating and often disturbing look at what storytelling and movie-love can do in service of a country that doesn’t actually serve its people…absurdist, touching…an extraordinary story" — Flavorwire
“Fascinating…the film of this book, when it comes, will be the most exciting movie Kim Jong-Il ever played a part in creating” — The Times (UK)
“A nightmarish, clammy adventure story, an absolutely brilliant page turner” — Daily Mail
“Reminds us that ludicrousness and brutality can thrive side-by-side…detailed and rigorously researched…this is bold, pacey, stranger-than-fiction stuff” — The Independent
“A thriller, with daring getaways, double-crosses and a despotic villain; a love story, in which the kidnapped artists’ romance is rekindled in the most unlikely circumstances; and a fascinating portrait of Kim, a pint-sized tyrant whose charisma and showmanship impress even his captives…heartbreaking” — Newsday
Nominated for the Crime Writers’ Association Best Non-Fiction Book Award (2015)
Longlisted for the Goodreads Choice Awards, Best History & Biography (2015)
Amazon.com Best Books of the Year
Hudson Booksellers Best of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year
Library Journal Best Books of the Year
NPR Best Books of the Year
