THE CENTURY OF DECEPTION

A fascinating romp through an extraordinary time

Author Ian Keable Publisher The Westbourne Press Price £20 Released Out now

Pranks, hoaxes and hoodwinks are nothing new these days. Careers have been made on them, celebrity has been founded on them, and the public have long since been the victims of bamboozlers, either for profit, entertainment or sheer devilment. In The Century of Deception, magician Ian Keable takes the reader on a journey through the flamboyant and fascinating world of the 18th century hoax, those who perpetrated them, and the thousands of people who fell for them.

From a showman who faced the ire of the crowd for failing to climb inside a bottle to the woman who gave birth to rabbits, scratching ghosts and everything in between, all Georgian life is here. Featuring a cast of characters who wouldn’t look out of place in the pages of 18th century fiction, this is the sort of book that keeps you turning the pages.

What emerges from Keable’s wonderfully readable book is how willing people were to put their common sense to one side in the hope of seeing something wonderful. It is also fascinating to watch the birth of the stunts we still see today, in a world where ‘going viral’ is a career goal for many. Yet the impact of these early hoaxes spread all through society, influencing everything from press to government, and sucking in some of the most celebrated names of the era. The Century of Deception is a joy to read. Witty, informative and written with unmistakable affection, this rich and entertaining book brings the Georgian world vividly back to life.