World famous magician Penn Jillette’s semi-autobiographical novel about criminal carnies

Published June 13, 2025 4:25am ET



Bob Dylan never really did it, he never hopped a train, but I really did,” writes Poe Legette, the protagonist of Felony Juggler, a new novel from magician, upright bass player, and author Penn Jillette. Or maybe it’s Jillette talking. The line between Poe and Penn is blurry. The book draws heavily on Jillette’s years as a street performing juggler and self-described “carny trash” before he hit it big as the talkative half of the magic duo Penn and Teller. There are no TV shows or glitzy Vegas theaters here; this story takes place on street corners and at Renaissance fairs of the 1970s, any place a loudmouth with three clubs and a dialed-in routine could make a little cash.

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