Table of Contents

Foreword Introduction Oath of a Freeman Pearl Harbor Hah Hitler! The Shroud of Turin Skullduggery The Missing Pages from John Wilkes Booth's Diary Acknowledgments Notes Index

About the Author

Edward Steers Jr. is the author of numerous books including Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of President Lincoln, Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with Our Greatest President, and The Lincoln Assassination Encyclopedia. He lives in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), is the author of more than twenty investigative books, including Secrets of the Sideshows and Real-Life X-Files: Investigating the Paranormal.

Reviews

"By demonstrating the wide variety of historical hoaxes, whether they are forgeries of documents or prehistoric remains, Hoax reinforces that they are a widespread problem for historians as they attempt to separate fact from fiction." -- Thomas Turner, editor of the Lincoln Herald

"Steers uses his knowledge of both history and science to explore such topics as whether President Franklin Roosevelt knew the Pearl Harbor attack was coming and the background of the fraudulent Hitler diaries of 30 years ago." -- West Virginia Messenger

"A valuable read for anyone dealing with the problem of fabricated evidence." -- New York Military Affairs Symposium Review

"Steers previously wrote the entertaining and enlightening ' Blood on the Moon, and he brings the same lively yet thoroughly researched syle to this winning volume." -- Courier-Journal

"The study of archaeological hoaxes and historical frauds is a long and intriguing one, with many books, articles and academic papers having been written over the years, but Edward Steers Jr.'s masterful study of six of the best (and most famous) covers new ground in its breadth and scope. Steers takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the mind and modus operandi of the forger, detailing the many twists and turns of each fabrication, considering why they were considered necessary and what each was attempting to achieve. It is an enthralling exploration of the darker side of academic life and of the psychology of the forger. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction." -- Miles Russell

"With his penetrating research skills, Dr. Edward Steers Jr., a seeker of truth, demolishes the most well-known hoaxes, illuminating their complex yet simple nature. A remarkable achievement, this book brings clarity to our world of misinformation that animates American culture. More than a reference, this work serves as a guide, a warning of sorts, revealing how simple it can be to fool the world." -- Joseph Garerra, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum