Hoax: Truth and Lies in the Age of Enlightenment

by Madeleine Pelling

Here lies Fanny Lynes, whose whispers from beyond the grave set London alight with scandal.
Here swings Mary Bateman, who lived a life of lies - and died a prophetess and murderer.
Here stands Mary Willcocks. Or is it Anne Burgess? Or Princess Caraboo, from the distant island of Javasu?

A ghost. A witch. A princess. This is a story of those who lie. And of those who choose to believe them.
The discoveries of the Enlightenment unsettled as much as they excited. New truths challenged longstanding beliefs. Rationalism jarred with superstition. Which voices would be heard in this ferocious battle for certainty?

From the chaos, three women and their hoaxes rose as symbols of terror and fascination. But were the lies surrounding Fanny Lynes, Mary Bateman and Mary Willcocks entirely of their own making? Why were the public transfixed?

Questioning culpability and complicity, Pelling's engrossing history of this great age of the hoax reveals a veiled world of moral panic, tall tales and true crime, and holds a mirror to our own turbulent relationship with truth.

Genres: Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 7, 2026

Reviews

[Rainbow Goth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is incredibly well researched, and Pelling deserves real credit for the depth she goes into when exploring the individuals at the centre of these stories.

I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author, and she does a great job bringing it to life.
At times it did feel a little slow. Some sections go into such fine detail that it became a bit of a struggle to get through, but overall the concept of exploring hoaxes is fascinating, and the book delivers on what it sets out to do.

I hadn’t come across any of the individuals Pelling investigates before, so it was really interesting to learn not just about the hoaxes themselves, but also the circumstances leading up to them and what happened afterwards.

Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the ALC. This review is my own.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie Pelling is one of my favourite podcasters and I really enjoyed her previous book 'The Writing on the Wall' so I was excited to listen to Hoax. The author has a good voice for narration, she speaks steadily and the narrative flows well. The book is about three famous 18th century hoaxers and it puts each person in the context of their time and place, follows their lives and the effects their actions have on society and the people around them.

I hadn't heard of any of these individuals and found their stories fascinating. The particular circumstances of each shows certain aspects of their society and times in a century of advancing change, and the influence the media of the day had on the spread of the hoaxes. I found this an enjoyable and informative listen.