The Reading Room, British Museum, London, 3 June 1997, 2.10 pm
This strange incident involving the man in the cloak in this photograph occurred while I was working on a book in the old British Museum Reading Room in June 1997. Photography was not allowed and this is the only photographic record. The explanation is given in the link below.
As a small group gathered who seemed to be awaiting 2.10 pm, I fell into conversation with an American man whose face seemed vaguely familiar. He told me of his interest in the Max Beerbohm story, written in the 19th century, about an incident which would occur in the Reading Room at 2.10pm on 3 June 1997. The American told me that he had travelled from the U.S. to be here at this time.
At 2.10 pm the caped figure in the photograph appeared as if from nowhere, silently examined a volume for some time while being watched in awe by the small crowd, and then disappeared. The American then told me about a small exhibition about the Beerbohm story in the library annexe, but I later found that it had closed.
However, I then remembered the identity of the American I had been speaking to. He was Teller, the half of the magician act Penn and Teller, the one who never speaks. I consider myself lucky to have heard his voice.
The link below, which I have found only today, was written by Teller, and mentions me:
www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/97nov/teller.htm
The Reading Room, British Museum, London, 3 June 1997, 2.10 pm
This strange incident involving the man in the cloak in this photograph occurred while I was working on a book in the old British Museum Reading Room in June 1997. Photography was not allowed and this is the only photographic record. The explanation is given in the link below.
As a small group gathered who seemed to be awaiting 2.10 pm, I fell into conversation with an American man whose face seemed vaguely familiar. He told me of his interest in the Max Beerbohm story, written in the 19th century, about an incident which would occur in the Reading Room at 2.10pm on 3 June 1997. The American told me that he had travelled from the U.S. to be here at this time.
At 2.10 pm the caped figure in the photograph appeared as if from nowhere, silently examined a volume for some time while being watched in awe by the small crowd, and then disappeared. The American then told me about a small exhibition about the Beerbohm story in the library annexe, but I later found that it had closed.
However, I then remembered the identity of the American I had been speaking to. He was Teller, the half of the magician act Penn and Teller, the one who never speaks. I consider myself lucky to have heard his voice.
The link below, which I have found only today, was written by Teller, and mentions me:
www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/97nov/teller.htm