Drake's Fortune

The Fabulous True Story of the World's Greatest Confidence Artist

Biography & Memoir, Historical, Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, True Crime
Cover of the book Drake's Fortune by Richard Rayner, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
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Author: Richard Rayner ISBN: 9781400075904
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group Publication: October 14, 2003
Imprint: Anchor Language: English
Author: Richard Rayner
ISBN: 9781400075904
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication: October 14, 2003
Imprint: Anchor
Language: English

His 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.

As 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.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

His 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.

As 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.

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