The Giant and How He Humbugged America

Two-time Newbery Honor Book author has written an amazing account of one of America's most famous hoaxes!

When a 10-foot tall purported "petrified man" is unearthed from a backyard in upstate New York in 1869, the discovery immediately turns into a spectacle of epic proportions. News of the giant spreads like wildfire, and well over a thousand people come to view him in the first five days alone!Everyone has their own idea of his true origin: Is he an ancient member of the local Onandaga Indian tribe? Is he a biblical giant like Goliath? Soon the interests of world-renowned scientists and people from around the globe are piqued as arguments flare over who he is, where he came from, and if he is real--or just a hoax. In a riveting account of how the Cardiff Giant mystery snowballed into one of America’s biggest money-making spectacles--and scams--Jim Murphy masterfully explores the power of 19th-century media and the unexpected ripple effect that a single corrupt mastermind can produce when given a stage.

Praise for Jim Murphy:The Great Fire A Newbery Honor Book* "A vertiable cinematic account." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewBlizzard! A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book2010 Margaret Edwards Award * "An example of stellar nonfiction." -- Booklist, starred reviewThe Crossing: How George Washington Saved the American Revolution* "A refreshingly frank, vivid, well-researched account of a pivotal time in American history." -- Booklist, starred review Truce* "Spectacular!" -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review