What do you think?
Rate this book
Impostors: Six Kinds of Liar
In her book "Impostors", Sarah Burton looks at the cases of individuals who have pulled off some of the most extraordinary deceptions.
Among them are Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance who was a glamorous film star, journalist, athlete, war hero, champion of native Americans who was actually Sylvester Long, a black man from the Deep South during the time of the Segregation Laws in the USA; well-known jazz musician, Billy Tipton, stepfather and scout-master who lived most of her life as a man. She married four women before her real identity was discovered when she died in 1989; and the most famous impostor of all, Ferdinand Demara, who posed variously as a surgeon, a university lecturer, a priest and a warden in a top security prison who was so good at his 'chosen' professions that, when unmasked, was often asked to return to the job.
Among them are Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance who was a glamorous film star, journalist, athlete, war hero, champion of native Americans who was actually Sylvester Long, a black man from the Deep South during the time of the Segregation Laws in the USA; well-known jazz musician, Billy Tipton, stepfather and scout-master who lived most of her life as a man. She married four women before her real identity was discovered when she died in 1989; and the most famous impostor of all, Ferdinand Demara, who posed variously as a surgeon, a university lecturer, a priest and a warden in a top security prison who was so good at his 'chosen' professions that, when unmasked, was often asked to return to the job.
303 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 14, 2009
This book is an account of various historical imposters, but only the ones who didn't do it for money (or solely for money) which is always more interesting. It's well written and easily accesible.
Dr. James Barry, in particular, was a fascinating person, and the book made the intriguing, though ultimately frustrating point that we only know about imposters who fail in their disguises and the best ones have never been revealed.
Dr. James Barry, in particular, was a fascinating person, and the book made the intriguing, though ultimately frustrating point that we only know about imposters who fail in their disguises and the best ones have never been revealed.
November 27, 2012
The book made a shocking statement about women who pretended to be men being 'the most disturbing' and after that I couldn't read any more. I scribbled out this offensive sentence and left the book in the doctor's waiting room.
Also there was a typo on the first page, which should've been my first clue this was a bad book.
Also there was a typo on the first page, which should've been my first clue this was a bad book.
December 5, 2010
Good stories
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews