The Hoax

A fascinating memoirand the inspiration for the movie starring Richard Gerefrom the man behind the forged autobiography of Howard Hughes (Time). Novelist Clifford Irvings no-holds-barred account of his faked autobiography of Howard Hughesone of the greatest literary hoaxes of the twentieth centuryis the ultimate caper story. The plan was concocted in the early 1970s, when eccentric billionaire Hughes was already living as a recluse in the Bahamas. An American author, Irving pitched the scheme to his friend, fellow writer Richard Suskind: Through forged letters and fake interviews, they would recount Hughess life in his own words. Meanwhile, Irvings wife would open a Swiss bank account in the name of Helga R. Hughes using a fake passport. Their success hinged on the assumption that Hughes would never resurface to challenge the book, as he had not spoken to the press in over ten years. Conning Irvings own publisher of nearly a decade out of a six-figure advance, the three conspirators embarked on a hoax that would fool journalists, handwriting experts, and even a lie-detector test. It was not until Hughes himself emerged from seclusion to denounce Irving that the book was exposed as fraud. This madcap, bestselling memoir is a story which reads like the best thriller fiction and which contains the seeds of a dozen movie scripts. Mysterious meetings, false passports, a beautiful Danish baroness, Swiss bank accounts . . . The Hoax is a masterpiece of international intrigue and startling revelations (The Tatler, England). Brilliant! Newsday A masterpiece! CBS Radio "Spellbinding! Publishers Weekly Sensational! New York Daily New