Fraudsters and Charlatans: A Peek at Some of History's Greatest Rogues
In 1817 a young woman of exotic appearance was found wandering near Bristol. She spoke in a language that no one could understand except, seemingly, a Portuguese sailor. He claimed that she was a Sumatran princess from the island of Javasu. Princess Caraboo, as she was known, became a national celebrity and lived in a grand style, entertaining many distinguished visitors. A few weeks later, however, she was exposed as Mary Baker, the daughter of a cobbler from Devonshire.
In "The Wedding", by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, when a man is invited to a children's ball, he witnesses an amazing incident. Five years later, a posh wedding clarifies everything.
These riveting personalities each achieved excellence, but even greater than their individual accomplishments is the positive Hispanic image they collectively represent to the world. Photographs, illustrations, and lively text tell the stories of these fascinating historical figures. Injured at the Battle of Lepanto, captured by pirates, and later imprisoned for allegedly cheating the Spanish crown, Cervantes' adventurous life rivals the hero of his masterpiece, Don Quixote.
In one brief moment, a golden childhood summer turns into a nightmare. A story of true friendship, and of how, years later, one man finds his loyalty tested to its dark and gruesome limit.
