Making and Manipulating Marionettes is a superb guide to a craft and performance art that has fascinated audiences for over two thousand years. Handsomely illustrated throughout, it presents precise instructions for the making of marionettes, both for plays and for acts in the variety tradition. All aspects of marionette design, construction, and control are covered, and there are rare insights into specialized designs and stringing techniques. Contents include: an introduction to the marionette tradition and the principles and practicalities of marionette design; advice on materials and methods for carving, modeling, and casting puppet parts; detailed explanations for marionette control, stringing, and manipulation; step–by–step instructions for the construction and jointing of human and animal marionettes; and professional secrets for achieving a wide range of special effects.