From the award-winning creators of The Mona Lisa Vanishes comes a fast-paced and fascinating illustrated nonfiction narrative about a con man who took in a trusting populace and pulled off the greatest get-rich-quick scheme of all time.
This is not a story about money, not really. It’s a story about confidence.
In the summer of 1920, thousands of people crowded the narrow streets of Boston, desperate to hand their money to the financial genius of the age. Charles Ponzi was charming and dapper, the hero of the common people, the enemy of the elite, the only man you could trust.
But who was he, really? A wizard—a man who could make your cash multiply almost overnight? Or the perfect mirror for an America determined to believe its own get-rich-quick dreams—a land of fake gold and phony schemes?
Welcome to the confidence game, a game only one person can win.
In this riveting, edge-of-your-seat illustrated narrative, the Sibert Medal–winning creators of The Mona Lisa Vanishes tell the true story of the spectacular rise and fall of a world-famous con artist—and show us the world that he made: a world of golden promises, in which a lie repeated long enough has a halo of truth.
NICHOLAS DAY is the author of The Mona Lisa Vanishes, winner of the Robert F. Sibert Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for nonfiction. His debut picture book, Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”, was illustrated by Chris Raschka. He has written regularly for Slate; his work has also appeared in the Atlantic, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, among other publications. He lives in Western Massachusetts with his family.
View titles by Nicholas Day
Brett Helquist is the illustrator of many books including A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day, Guitar Genius by Kim Tomsic, and Cezanne’s Parrot by Amy Guglielmo. He is also the author of Bedtime for Bear, Grumpy Goat, and Roger the Jolly Pirate. He grew up in Utah and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and two kids. When he’s not working, he’s usually trying to play his guitar.
View titles by Brett Helquist
From the award-winning creators of The Mona Lisa Vanishes comes a fast-paced and fascinating illustrated nonfiction narrative about a con man who took in a trusting populace and pulled off the greatest get-rich-quick scheme of all time.
This is not a story about money, not really. It’s a story about confidence.
In the summer of 1920, thousands of people crowded the narrow streets of Boston, desperate to hand their money to the financial genius of the age. Charles Ponzi was charming and dapper, the hero of the common people, the enemy of the elite, the only man you could trust.
But who was he, really? A wizard—a man who could make your cash multiply almost overnight? Or the perfect mirror for an America determined to believe its own get-rich-quick dreams—a land of fake gold and phony schemes?
Welcome to the confidence game, a game only one person can win.
In this riveting, edge-of-your-seat illustrated narrative, the Sibert Medal–winning creators of The Mona Lisa Vanishes tell the true story of the spectacular rise and fall of a world-famous con artist—and show us the world that he made: a world of golden promises, in which a lie repeated long enough has a halo of truth.
NICHOLAS DAY is the author of The Mona Lisa Vanishes, winner of the Robert F. Sibert Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for nonfiction. His debut picture book, Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”, was illustrated by Chris Raschka. He has written regularly for Slate; his work has also appeared in the Atlantic, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, among other publications. He lives in Western Massachusetts with his family.
View titles by Nicholas Day
Brett Helquist is the illustrator of many books including A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day, Guitar Genius by Kim Tomsic, and Cezanne’s Parrot by Amy Guglielmo. He is also the author of Bedtime for Bear, Grumpy Goat, and Roger the Jolly Pirate. He grew up in Utah and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and two kids. When he’s not working, he’s usually trying to play his guitar.
View titles by Brett Helquist
