First published 2017
George Hull sits in a church pew in 1868, listening to a preacher declare America the biblical land of giants. The wealthy cigar maker hatches an audacious plan to prove the sermon true. Hull commissions a massive stone figure and buries it on Stubby Newell's farm in Cardiff, New York. When workers "discover" the ancient giant in 1869, crowds flock to witness the marvel. The Cardiff Giant draws bigger audiences than any of P.T. Barnum's celebrated attractions. The Great Showman takes notice, determined never to be outdone in the art of separating people from their money. Hull watches his creation spark a nationwide sensation while navigating the dangerous waters of 19th century showmanship. This story of America's greatest hoax captures the spirit of a young nation hungry for wonders and willing to believe in the impossible.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, american, hoaxes, 19th-century
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, historical-events
Setting: Cardiff, New York
Period: 1868, 1869
296 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform