‘Fake news’ is considered a modern phenomenon, but improbable stories have gained widespread credence for centuries. Ian Keable, a professional magician and one-time hoaxer himself, unearths the tall tales that tricked the public of Georgian England: a man who promised to climb into a bottle on the London stage; a Chinese temple in the clouds; and a woman who gave birth to a litter of rabbits.
In 1749, a newspaper advertisement appeared declaring that a man would climb inside a bottle on the stage of a London theatre. Although the crowds turned up in their hundreds to witness the trick, the performer didn't. Over the following decades, elaborate jokes and fanciful tales would continue to bamboozle people across England. In The Century of Deception, magician and historian Ian Keable tells the engrossing stories of these eighteenth-century hoaxes and those who were duped by them. The English public were hoodwinked time and time again, swallowing whole tales of rapping ghosts, a woman who gave birth to rabbits, a levitating Frenchman in a Chinese Temple and outrageous astrological predictions. Not only were the hoaxes widely influential, drawing in celebrities such as Samuel Johnson, Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Swift, they also inflamed concerns about 'English credulity'.
Reasons to shop at Postscript
Independent bookseller Established in 1987, we’ve been sharing reading recommendations for decades.
Books you won’t find elsewhere Discover new authors among our frequently changing bookshelves, along with almost-forgotten gems and a wealth of unusual titles you won’t find elsewhere.
Eco-friendly packaging Orders are carefully packed in recyclable cardboard boxes, eco-friendly bubble wrap and solvent-free labels, paper and tape.
Condition and price All our books are new, unused and unread, and they’re all up to 75% off RRP.
FREE monthly catalogue Featuring over 400 handpicked titles, our unique catalogue is carefully curated and includes new and unusual titles, special features and exclusive collections.
Email newsletters Our tailored newsletters are written by our booksellers, and we always highlight the books that we have talked about most in the Postscript office.
Footnotes blog Some books spark ideas and conversations that our catalogue can’t contain – our Footnotes blog offers a deeper dive into a wealth of topics to inspire further reading.
Aftercare We are all serious book people and we understand the value of reading. This is why we package our books so carefully and employ a helpful in-house customer services team to promptly resolve any queries you may have.
Delivery information
UK
Free UK standard delivery on all online orders over £25
Unlimited books in one delivery charge:
• Standard: £3.20 (3-5 working days)
• Click & Collect: £3.20 (3-5 working days)
• Next Day (orders must be placed before 1pm, Monday–Friday): £4.50
• Royal Mail Tracked48: £5.50 (2-4 working days)
Highlands and Islands delivery: standard delivery only (5-7 working days)
Overseas
All orders: delivery costs for orders outside the UK are based on country of destination and product weight.
You can view your overseas delivery cost using the Summary section within the Basket.
For more information on delivery/overseas orders please refer to our Delivery Information.
https://www.psbooks.co.uk/century-of-deception518899The Century of Deceptionhttps://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/1/518899_media-0.jpg8.998.99GBPInStock/History/History/Categories/Social History/Gift Ideas/Non-Fiction/Highlights/History/Categories/Modern History/Almost Gone/Almost Gone History/Almost Gone/Almost Gone Non-Fiction‘Fake news’ is considered a modern phenomenon, but improbable stories have gained widespread credence for centuries. Ian Keable, a professional magician and one-time hoaxer himself, unearths the tall tales that tricked the public of Georgian England: a man who promised to climb into a bottle on the London stage; a Chinese temple in the clouds; and a woman who gave birth to a litter of rabbits.Hardback00https://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/1/518899_media-1.jpgadd-to-cartrrp_info:£20.00productId:95847bic_code:ASZG, HBJD1, HBLL, HBTB, JFHXASZG, HBJD1, HBLL, HBTB, JFHX£20.00Ian KeableGeneral241x162mmWestbourneYesHardbackBritish & Irish
