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HOAXES THAT MADE HEADLINES by Herma & Caroline Arnold Silverstein

HOAXES THAT MADE HEADLINES

By

Pub Date: Jan. 12th, 1987
Publisher: Messner

Hoaxes over the centuries, front A to Z. What motivates those who perpetrate forgeries and other tricks? Power, revenge, patriotism, fun. A broad range of fakes are exposed here, from Hitler's diaries and those capitalizing on Shakespeare's writings, to the Shroud of Turin and Doris Lessing's pseudonymous novels. Among the better known impostors are Poe, Newton, and Twain. Perhaps, though, the most interesting profiles concern the ""great impostors"" whose names don't matter, but whose behavior is fascinating as they switch from lawyer to doctor and back again. Unfortunately, these brilliant fakers don't let the world in on their reasons; the authors don't hazard wild analysis, and we're left wanting more insight. Whose signature is forged more than anyone else's? Lincoln's. Which artist signed his name on so many blank papers he inadvertently created his own forgery problem? Dali. A sweeping, literate, intelligent piece of research useful for trivia buffs.