The Century of Deception

‘Fake news’ is considered a modern phenomenon, but improbable stories have gained widespread credence for centuries. Ian Keable, a professional magician and one-time hoaxer himself, unearths the tall tales that tricked the public of Georgian England: a man who promised to climb into a bottle on the London stage; a Chinese temple in the clouds; and a woman who gave birth to a litter of rabbits.