{"product_id":"drakes-fortune-the-fabulous-true-story-of-the-worlds-greatest-confidence-artist-paperback","title":"Drake's Fortune: The Fabulous True Story of the World's Greatest Confidence Artist - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRichard Rayner\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis scam was as simple as it was brazen. Before and during the Great Depression, Oscar Hartzell persuaded tens of thousands of Midwesterners to part with millions of dollars to start a legal fund that would see the mythical fortune of Sir Francis Drake restored to his rightful heir. In return for their contributions, donors would get shares in the riches, estimated to be worth $100 billion. The money of course went in the pocket of Hartzell, who transformed himself into a hedonistic English aristocrat even as the folks back home continued to see him as a hero. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs he recounts this amazing tale, Richard Rayner tells the larger history of cons in America. We have always had a soft spot for the crafty or larger-than-life swindler, and with \u003cb\u003eDrake's Fortune\u003c\/b\u003e, Rayner offers a delightful portrait of a uniquely American character.\u003ch3\u003eFront Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis scam was as simple as it was brazen. Before and during the Great Depression, Oscar Hartzell persuaded tens of thousands of Midwesterners to part with millions of dollars to start a legal fund that would see the mythical fortune of Sir Francis Drake restored to his rightful heir. In return for their contributions, donors would get shares in the riches, estimated to be worth $100 billion. The money of course went in the pocket of Hartzell, who transformed himself into a hedonistic English aristocrat even as the folks back home continued to see him as a hero. \u003cbr\u003eAs he recounts this amazing tale, Richard Rayner tells the larger history of cons in America. We have always had a soft spot for the crafty or larger-than-life swindler, and with Drake's Fortune, Rayner offers a delightful portrait of a uniquely American character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichard Rayner is the author of several books, including the novel \u003cb\u003eThe Cloud Sketche\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003er \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003cb\u003eThe Blue Suit\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e, \u003c\/i\u003ea memoir of his own life as a thief while a student at Cambridge University. His work appears in \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker, The New York Times, \u003c\/i\u003ethe\u003ci\u003e Los Angeles Times, \u003c\/i\u003eand other publications. He lives with his family in Los Angeles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 240\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.62 x 8.04 x 5.2 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 14, 2003\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48743562772728,"sku":"9780385499507","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0698\/5629\/7208\/files\/alOKDYD2069780385499507.webp?v=1780303827","url":"https:\/\/barneysbooksellers.com\/products\/drakes-fortune-the-fabulous-true-story-of-the-worlds-greatest-confidence-artist-paperback","provider":"Barney's Book Sellers","version":"1.0","type":"link"}