CHECK ME OUT

WORDS Winter Haven Public Library 325 Avenue A NW (863) 291-5880 mywinterhaven.com/library

THE MAN IN THE ROCKEFELLER SUIT By Mark Seal

Before Anna Delvey caught our attention in Inventing Anna, there was another German native who conned the world of the rich. In this case, Mark Seal reveals how German native Christian Gerhartsreiter came to the United States and moved up the social ladder, eventually posing as a Rockefeller while charming his way into exclusive communities, clubs, and financial institutions. He ultimately blows his own con game by kidnapping his young daughter and trying to flee with his wife’s money.

THE WONDER By Emma Donoghue

Based loosely on the real-life phenomenon of the Victorian Fasting Girl, “The Wonder” explores the religious fanaticism of the 19th century. An English nurse, Lib Wright, is summoned to a tiny village in the Irish Midlands to observe what some claim as a miracle - a girl said to have survived without food for months. Is it God's Will or an elaborate hoax? Donoghue weaves an atmospheric and truly eerie mystery as Lib develops an attachment to the young girl while trying to uncover the truth.

PROVENANCE By Laney Salisbury & Aly Suju

The true story of one of the twentieth century's most audacious art frauds, “Provenance” is filled with thrilling details of one of the most elaborate cons in the history of art forgery. A struggling artist, John Myatt, and a con man, John Drewe, convinced the art world's upper echelons that at least two hundred forged paintings were originals. This was done by faking the certificates of authenticity called provenances. Incredibly, Myatt's paintings were collected by prestigious museums, galleries, and private buyers, all fooled by Drewe. It is an almost unbelievable story with consequences still felt in the art world today.

I, LIBERTINE By Theodore Sturgeon

“I, Libertine” is a literary hoax novel that began as a practical joke. Late-night radio host, Jean Shepherd, upset at how bestseller lists were compiled, urged his many listeners to ask bookstores for “I, Libertine” - a completely fabricated book. Demand for the book was so high it appeared on The New York Times bestseller list even before it was an actual book. Eventually, Shepherd partnered with Sturgeon to write a book called “I, Libertine” and that book in itself is part satire, part hoax. Although hard to find in print, the library has it in eBook format.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

By Frank W Abagnale

If you like more loveable con men, this is the tale for you. Frank W. Abagnale, under many aliases, was one of the most daring con men and escape artists in history. He donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without a license, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks - all before he was twenty-one. This is his tale of a luxurious life on the lam until the law eventually caught up with him. Although nonfiction, the book is a light and fun read, with Abagnale using his considerable charm to tell his own story.

THE MAGNETIC GIRL By Jessica Handler

“The Magnetic Girl” is a fictionalized account of Lulu Hurst, also known as the Georgia Wonder. Lulu toured the country as a vaudeville act in the 1880s, where she was said to have supernatural abilities and magnetism. The story is set at a time when the emerging fascination with the wonders of scientific discoveries like electricity clashed against the shared beliefs of what was possible. “The Magnetic Girl” is Lulu's coming-of-age story and a snapshot of a unique historical period. Most importantly, it uncovers a universal truth that people have always been desperate to believe what logic tells them can't be true.