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Hoax

Truth and Lies in the Age of Enlightenment

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Hoax

By: Madeleine Pelling
Narrated by: Madeleine Pelling
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'Scintillating ... a thrill ride through the filthy streets and dank rooms of Georgian England where the lies and deceptions that fooled a nation were born' Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five

Here lies Fanny Lynes, whose whispers from beyond the grave set London alight with scandal.
Here swings Mary Bateman, who lived a life of lies - and died a prophetess and murderer.
Here stands Mary Willcocks. Or is it Anne Burgess? Or Princess Caraboo, from the distant island of Javasu?

A ghost. A witch. A princess. This is a story of those who lie. And of those who choose to believe them.
The discoveries of the Enlightenment unsettled as much as they excited. New truths challenged longstanding beliefs. Rationalism jarred with superstition. Which voices would be heard in this ferocious battle for certainty?

From the chaos, three women and their hoaxes rose as symbols of terror and fascination. But were the lies surrounding Fanny Lynes, Mary Bateman and Mary Willcocks entirely of their own making? Why were the public transfixed?

Questioning culpability and complicity, Pelling's engrossing history of this great age of the hoax reveals a veiled world of moral panic, tall tales and true crime, and holds a mirror to our own turbulent relationship with truth.©2026 Madeleine Pelling (P)2024 Macmillan Audio Europe Great Britain England Royalty
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​Such a wonderful reclamation of women's voices. Hoax takes us into the underbelly of Georgian Britain, but instead of focusing on the elite men of the Enlightenment, it shines a light on three extraordinary women. Dr. Madeleine Pelling artfully rescues Fanny, Mary, and Princess Caraboo from the margins of history.
​Instead of just looking at what they did, she explores why they did it, painting a vivid picture of what it meant to be a woman trying to survive in a deeply unequal world. The writing is atmospheric, fast-paced, and incredibly respectful of these women’s complex narratives. It's an empowering, eye-opening read that proves women’s history is far more scandalous, brilliant, and layered than we are usually taught.

Gripping history

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