John Zubrzycki has a degree in South Asian history and Hindi from the Australian National University. A former senior writer and Deputy Foreign Editor at The Australian newspaper, he has worked in India as a diplomat, foreign correspondent and tour guide. He is currently writing a doctoral thesis at the University of NSW on the historical links between Indian and Western stage magicians. His first book, The Last Nizam: The Rise and Fall of India's Greatest Princely State, traced the life of Mukarram Jah who in the 1970s carved out a kingdom among the kangaroos and acacias of Western Australia only to see his vast fortune turn to dust. The book was a best-seller in Australia and India, where it is still in print. His second book, The Mysterious Mr Jacob: Diamond Merchant, Magician and Spy, tells the story of Alexander Malcolm Jacob, tells the story of one of the most extraordinary and enigmatic figures of the Raj. A confidant of viceroys and maharajahs, he was India's most successful purveyor of precious stones, the most famous magician of his day and a player in the Great Game. It was named as one of the best books on India in 2012 by The Wall Street Journal 

Format;  John Zubrzycki will make a presentation from his latest book"  JADOOWALLAHS,JUGGLERS  AND  JINNS,  TRACES  THE  EVOLUTION  OF THE  CONJURING  TRADITIONS  OF  INDIA.

This book  traces the evolution of the conjuring traditions of India from the realm of the gods to the domain of daily ritual and popular entertainment. It has been published in India, the US, the United Kingdom and Australia.