The Giant

A giant discovery sparks a frenzy: real or hoax?

3.5/5 Goodreads · 328 ratings

112 pages

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Bookroo's summary

In 1869, a 10-foot 'petrified man' is unearthed in New York, igniting a media frenzy. As crowds flock to see the giant, debates rage: Is he an ancient relic or a clever hoax? With scientists and the public captivated, the mystery spirals into a grand spectacle. Discover the truth behind one of America's most notorious scams and the mastermind who orchestrated it all.

From the publisher

Two-time Newbery Honor Book author has written an amazing account of one of America’s most famous hoaxes!When a 10-foot tall purported “petrified man” is unearthed from a backyard in upstate New York in 1869, the discovery immediately turns into a spectacle of epic proportions. News of the giant spreads like wildfire, and well over a thousand people come to view him in the first five days alone!Everyone has their own idea of his true origin: Is he an ancient member of the local Onandaga Indian tribe? Is he a biblical giant like Goliath? Soon the interests of world-renowned scientists and people from around the globe are piqued as arguments flare over who he is, where he came from, and if he is real–or just a hoax. In a riveting account of how the Cardiff Giant mystery snowballed into one of America’s biggest money-making spectacles–and scams–Jim Murphy masterfully explores the power of 19th-century media and the unexpected ripple effect that a single corrupt mastermind can produce when given a stage.

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