Like it or not, the rascals and rogues of this world are generally more interesting characters than the good guys. Their names and escapades are better remembered than those of the heroes. In this volume you will find a remarkable array of men and women, including the politician who faked his own death, the clerk who 'invested' £32 million of his banks money adn the train robber who became a legend in his own lifetime.
Profiles the many individuals who succeeded even as they were lying through their teeth, recounting the stories of an art forger who fooled the experts, a surgeon with no medical training, and many others
From Clifford Irving and his Howard Hughes hoax to the great imposter Frank “Catch Me if You Can” Abagnale—a fascinating history of the art of the con. They’re shrewd, cunning, devious—and charmingly trustworthy. While the criminal exploits of these tricksters, frauds, and swindlers can’t be condoned, it’s near-impossible not to be awed by their audacity and ingenuity. Take Victor Lustig, the “Bouncing Czech” who sold the Eiffel Tower—twice; John Stonehouse, a philandering politician who faked his own death to escape his sins; the impotence cure of the bizarre Dr. John Brinkley who transplanted goat testicles on gullible men; embarrassingly successful Goldman Sachs embezzler Joyti De-Laurey; or Robert Hendy-Freegard, a car salesman and serial seducer who convinced scores of women he was an MI5 agent. Here, too, are the exploits of a “friend of the stars” who infiltrated a royal castle; a fake Scots “laird” who operated from the heart of Scotland Yard; evangelists who fell from grace; and other pilferers, parasites, artful dodgers, charming bastards, femme fatales, big fat liars, and grand masters of dishonorable mention.
Crooks, conmen, fakers, forgers, rascals, rogues, vagabonds and villains -his book is a cornucopia of crime. Throughout history, we have been connednd bamboozled by the most intricate scams and imaginative scoundrels thathe criminal world has to offer. This book offers a look at these shadyharacters - from 19th century art forgers to 21st century conmen such aseter Foster.;The text details how they pulled off their scams and whatotivates them to do what they do. Beware - after reading this you may neverrust anyone again.
They're crafty and cunning - every one of them a conman who would relieve you of your hard-earned cash without a qualm. And yet what sets apart the crooks who fill the pages of this book is the manner of their crimes. It is not so much what they do but the style in which they do it that makes them memorable.
Takes a close-up look at thirty-two holy men and women who took a less than saintly path on their road to sainthood, profiling St. Olga, St. Mary of Egypt, Thomas … Becket, and other sinners-turned-saint. 20,000 first printing.
