Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a Cit
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A book that has been read and does not look new, but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the book cover, with the dust jacket (if applicable) included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins. Some identifying marks on the inside cover, but this is minimal. Very little wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
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eBay item number:156835501255
Item specifics
- Condition
- ISBN
- 9781616201753
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
ISBN-10
1616201754
ISBN-13
9781616201753
eBay Product ID (ePID)
203379072
Product Key Features
Book Title
Empire of Deception : The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation
Number of Pages
352 Pages
Language
English
Topic
Hoaxes & Deceptions, United States / 20th Century, Legal Profession, White Collar Crime, Economic Conditions, General, United States / State & Local / MidWest (IA, Il, in, Ks, Mi, MN, Mo, Nd, Ne, Oh, Sd, Wi), Business, Criminology, Sociology / Urban
Publication Year
2015
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Law, True Crime, Social Science, Biography & Autobiography, Business & Economics, History
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
1.1 in
Item Weight
16.5 Oz
Item Length
9.3 in
Item Width
6.4 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
2014-042711
Reviews
"Begin with a Bernie Madoff, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing con man, pursued by a power-hungry prig of a public prosecutor; add the great hog-trough feeding frenzy of 1920s Chicago; stir with great writing and enterprising research; and there you have it: A wonderfully entertaining read!" -- Michael Lesy, author of Wisconsin Death Trip " Empire of Deception is a sure thing--a book guaranteed to entertain and make you rich (in knowledge, that is). Dean Jobb has found a fascinating yet little-known jazz-age tale and told it with style and smarts. Get in on the action." -- Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Get Capone "The unique features of Dean Jobb's book about Leo Koretz are his lively description of the people involved and the slippery slope that grew with each fraudulent step. The book makes the people come alive, presenting a 'movie in words.' Empire of Deception demonstrates the dangers of unverified promises of great wealth and is an invaluable lesson on how investors can protect themselves." -- Professor Tamar Frankel, author of The Ponzi Scheme Puzzle "A captivating tale of high-flying financial chicanery in 1920s Chicago. Dean Jobb tells the story of Leo Koretz, a legendary con artist of Madoffian audacity, with terrific energy and narrative brio. A thoroughly enjoyable read." -- Gary Krist, author of City of Scoundrels "Dean Jobb's Empire of Deception is the highly readable account of a major swindle in the Roaring Twenties in Chicago, which will convince any sensible reader that when it comes to investing in crackpot schemes nobody ever learns anything by experience. Leo Koretz did exactly what Bernie Madoff did, and came to the same end, as did his investors. A dramatic read, and a useful lesson!" -- Michael Korda, author of Charmed Lives "Dean Jobb's exploration of financial shaman Leo Koretz's shameless scheming is a great read, but it's also so much more than that. A brilliantly researched tale of greed, ambition, and our desperate need to believe in magic, it's history that captures America as it really was--and always will be." -- Douglas Perry, author of Eliot Ness: The Rise and Fall of an American Hero "Except to those being swindled, swindlers make wonderful, swaggering copy, and Dean Jobb has made splendid use of the material in this juicy retelling. His story of conman Leo (or Lou, or Al, or whatever name he chose to use) and his pathetically gullible and mostly rich victims perfectly captures the flavors of Chicago (and New York! and Nova Scotia!) in the Roaring Twenties. What a great caper movie this would make!"-- Marq de Villiers, author of Our Way Out: Principles for a Post-Apocalyptic World, "Intoxicating and impressively researched, Jobb's immorality tale provides a sobering post-Madoff reminder that those who think everything is theirs for the taking are destined to be taken." -- The New York Times Book Review "Comprehensively researched and enthralling . . . High-stakes hijinks give the story a rollicking feel, but Jobb manages great poignancy, too. . . This lively and sweeping account seems to have already given a master con artist his due, putting him in the 'pantheon of pyramid-building swindlers.'" -- The Washington Post "This cautionary tale of 1920s greed and excess reads like it could happen today." -- The Associated Press "Jobb vividly, albeit briefly, brings the Chicago of the 1880s and '90s to life . . . [and] is a masterpiece of narrative set-up and vivid language." -- Chicago Tribune "Dean Jobb skillfully dusts off this century-old tale with a fast-paced narrative, a keen eye for detail and a cast of characters in which the free-for-all city of Chicago plays a prominent role . . . [A] masterfully told story." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune "Jobb makes it clear that Koretz's schemes weren't unique to his time period. The parallels between Koretz and Madoff are fascinating: Both men 'dropped hints' and 'played hard to get,' only selling shares to those who persistently begged for them. And both confined their sales, at least at first, to an inner circle of those who knew and trusted them, making their betrayals all the more brutal." -- The Columbus Dispatch "Peppered with contemporaneous photos depicting the key players and the swanky places, phony stock certificates, newspaper headlines, and even a 'wanted' posted, Empire of Deception is a jaw-dropping, rollicking good read."-- Booklist "This lively, entertaining, and depressingly relevant history of a man and his con reads like a novel and will be enjoyed by fans of popular history as well as true crime." -- Library Journal , starred review "[A] rollicking story of greed, financial corruption, dirty politics, and illicit sex." -- Publishers Weekly "Dean Jobb has written an absolutely rollicking tale that is one part The Sting , one part The Great Gatsby , and one part The Devil in the White City . Impressively researched and brilliantly told, Empire of Deception vividly recreates the unscrupulous side of 1920s Chicago where greed, deception, and corruption ran amok, and where one Leo Koretz, a charismatic and enigmatic con man, charmed them all . . . including me." -- Karen Abbott, author of Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, "Intoxicating and impressively researched, Jobb's immorality tale provides a sobering post-Madoff reminder that those who think everything is theirs for the taking are destined to be taken." -- The New York Times Book Review "Comprehensively researched and enthralling . . . High-stakes hijinks give the story a rollicking feel, but Jobb manages great poignancy, too. . . This lively and sweeping account seems to have already given a master con artist his due, putting him in the 'pantheon of pyramid-building swindlers.'" -- The Washington Post "This cautionary tale of 1920s greed and excess reads like it could happen today." -- The Associated Press "Jobb vividly, albeit briefly, brings the Chicago of the 1880s and '90s to life . . . [and] is a masterpiece of narrative set-up and vivid language." -- Chicago Tribune "Dean Jobb skillfully dusts off this century-old tale with a fast-paced narrative, a keen eye for detail and a cast of characters in which the free-for-all city of Chicago plays a prominent role . . . [A] masterfully told story." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune "Jobb expertly mixes newspaper research with witness interviews to weave a rollicking narrative. . . .The result is a memorable, fast-moving work of history."-- Atlanta Jewish Times "[A]n intriguing story. . . In our own wealth-besotted times, this well-researched story of Leo Koretz is a cautionary tale."-- Washington Independent Review of Books "Peppered with contemporaneous photos depicting the key players and the swanky places, phony stock certificates, newspaper headlines, and even a 'wanted' posted, Empire of Deception is a jaw-dropping, rollicking good read."-- Booklist "This lively, entertaining, and depressingly relevant history of a man and his con reads like a novel and will be enjoyed by fans of popular history as well as true crime." -- Library Journal , starred review "[A] rollicking story of greed, financial corruption, dirty politics, and illicit sex." -- Publishers Weekly, "Intoxicating and impressively researched, Jobb's immorality tale provides a sobering post-Madoff reminder that those who think everything is theirs for the taking are destined to be taken." -- The New York Times Book Review "Comprehensively researched and enthralling . . . High-stakes hijinks give the story a rollicking feel, but Jobb manages great poignancy, too. . . This lively and sweeping account seems to have already given a master con artist his due, putting him in the 'pantheon of pyramid-building swindlers.'" -- The Washington Post "This cautionary tale of 1920s greed and excess reads like it could happen today." -- The Associated Press "Jobb vividly, albeit briefly, brings the Chicago of the 1880s and '90s to life . . . [and] is a masterpiece of narrative set-up and vivid language." -- Chicago Tribune "Dean Jobb skillfully dusts off this century-old tale with a fast-paced narrative, a keen eye for detail and a cast of characters in which the free-for-all city of Chicago plays a prominent role . . . [A] masterfully told story." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune "Jobb expertly mixes newspaper research with witness interviews to weave a rollicking narrative. . . .The result is a memorable, fast-moving work of history."-- Atlanta Jewish Times "[A]n intriguing story. . . In our own wealth-besotted times, this well-researched story of Leo Koretz is a cautionary tale."-- Washington Independent Review of Books "Peppered with contemporaneous photos depicting the key players and the swanky places, phony stock certificates, newspaper headlines, and even a 'wanted' posted, Empire of Deception is a jaw-dropping, rollicking good read."-- Booklist "This lively, entertaining, and depressingly relevant history of a man and his con reads like a novel and will be enjoyed by fans of popular history as well as true crime." -- Library Journal , starred review "[A] rollicking story of greed, financial corruption, dirty politics, and illicit sex." -- Publishers Weekly, "Dean Jobb has written an absolutely rollicking tale that is one part The Sting , one part The Great Gatsby , and one part The Devil in the White City . Impressively researched and brilliantly told, Empire of Deception vividly recreates the unscrupulous side of 1920s Chicago where greed, deception, and corruption ran amok, and where one Leo Koretz, a charismatic and enigmatic con man, charmed them all . . . including me." -- Karen Abbott, author of Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy "A guilty-pleasure reminder that the most audacious bad guys have always been the most entertaining. In Dean Jobb''s hands, the free-for-all 1920s, a sweet spot in the history of greed and corruption, reads like a Gatsby-Ponzi mash-up. What makes Koretz''s unscrupulousness outshine Charles Ponzi''s and even Bernie Madoff''s is how, after he''s cornered, he hits the road and brazenly crafts a deluxe new life for himself in remote Canada, which launches a massive manhunt led by an obsessive Chicago lawman. Kudos to Jobb for unearthing this overlooked story and bringing to life a charming, witty, naughty, iconic American crook." -- Neal Thompson, author of A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert "Believe It or Not!" Ripley "Begin with a Bernie Madoff, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing con man, pursued by a power-hungry prig of a public prosecutor; add the great hog-trough feeding frenzy of 1920s Chicago; stir with great writing and enterprising research; and there you have it: A wonderfully entertaining read!" -- Michael Lesy, author of Wisconsin Death Trip " Empire of Deception is a sure thing--a book guaranteed to entertain and make you rich (in knowledge, that is). Dean Jobb has found a fascinating yet little-known jazz-age tale and told it with style and smarts. Get in on the action." -- Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Get Capone "The unique features of Dean Jobb''s book about Leo Koretz are his lively description of the people involved and the slippery slope that grew with each fraudulent step. The book makes the people come alive, presenting a ''movie in words.'' Empire of Deception demonstrates the dangers of unverified promises of great wealth and is an invaluable lesson on how investors can protect themselves." -- Professor Tamar Frankel, author of The Ponzi Scheme Puzzle "A captivating tale of high-flying financial chicanery in 1920s Chicago. Dean Jobb tells the story of Leo Koretz, a legendary con artist of Madoffian audacity, with terrific energy and narrative brio. A thoroughly enjoyable read." -- Gary Krist, New York Times bestselling author of City of Scoundrels "This highly readable account of a major swindle in the Roaring Twenties in Chicago will convince any sensible reader that when it comes to investing in crackpot schemes, nobody ever learns anything by experience. Leo Koretz did exactly what Bernie Madoff did, and came to the same end, as did his investors. A dramatic read, and a useful lesson!" -- Michael Korda, author of Charmed Lives "Dean Jobb''s exploration of financial shaman Leo Koretz's shameless scheming is a great read, but it's also so much more than that. A brilliantly researched tale of greed, ambition, and our desperate need to believe in magic, it''s history that captures America as it really was--and always will be." -- Douglas Perry, author of Eliot Ness: The Rise and Fall of an American Hero "Except to those being swindled, swindlers make wonderful, swaggering copy, and Dean Jobb has made splendid use of the material in this juicy retelling. His story of conman Leo (or Lou, or Al, or whatever name he chose to use) and his pathetically gullible and mostly rich victims perfectly captures the flavors of Chicago (and New York! and Nova Scotia!) in the Roaring Twenties. What a great caper movie this would make!" -- Marq de Villiers, author of Our Way Out: Principles for a Post-Apocalyptic World, "Begin with a Bernie Madoff, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing con man, pursued by a power-hungry prig of a public prosecutor; add the great hog-trough feeding frenzy of 1920s Chicago; stir with great writing and enterprising research; and there you have it: A wonderfully entertaining read!" -- Michael Lesy, author of Wisconsin Death Trip " Empire of Deception is a sure thing--a book guaranteed to entertain and make you rich (in knowledge, that is). Dean Jobb has found a fascinating yet little-known jazz-age tale and told it with style and smarts. Get in on the action." -- Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Get Capone "The unique features of Dean Jobb's book about Leo Koretz are his lively description of the people involved and the slippery slope that grew with each fraudulent step. The book makes the people come alive, presenting a 'movie in words.' Empire of Deception demonstrates the dangers of unverified promises of great wealth and is an invaluable lesson on how investors can protect themselves." -- Professor Tamar Frankel, author of The Ponzi Scheme Puzzle "A captivating tale of high-flying financial chicanery in 1920s Chicago. Dean Jobb tells the story of Leo Koretz, a legendary con artist of Madoffian audacity, with terrific energy and narrative brio. A thoroughly enjoyable read." -- Gary Krist, New York Times bestselling author of City of Scoundrels "This highly readable account of a major swindle in the Roaring Twenties in Chicago will convince any sensible reader that when it comes to investing in crackpot schemes, nobody ever learns anything by experience. Leo Koretz did exactly what Bernie Madoff did, and came to the same end, as did his investors. A dramatic read, and a useful lesson!" -- Michael Korda, author of Charmed Lives "Dean Jobb's exploration of financial shaman Leo Koretz's shameless scheming is a great read, but it's also so much more than that. A brilliantly researched tale of greed, ambition, and our desperate need to believe in magic, it's history that captures America as it really was--and always will be." -- Douglas Perry, author of Eliot Ness: The Rise and Fall of an American Hero "Except to those being swindled, swindlers make wonderful, swaggering copy, and Dean Jobb has made splendid use of the material in this juicy retelling. His story of conman Leo (or Lou, or Al, or whatever name he chose to use) and his pathetically gullible and mostly rich victims perfectly captures the flavors of Chicago (and New York! and Nova Scotia!) in the Roaring Twenties. What a great caper movie this would make!" -- Marq de Villiers, author of Our Way Out: Principles for a Post-Apocalyptic World "A guilty-pleasure reminder that the most audacious bad guys have always been the most entertaining. In Dean Jobb's hands, the free-for-all 1920s, a sweet spot in the history of greed and corruption, reads like a Gatsby-Ponzi mash-up. What makes Koretz's unscrupulousness outshine Charles Ponzi's and even Bernie Madoff's is how, after he's cornered, he hits the road and brazenly crafts a deluxe new life for himself in remote Canada, which launches a massive manhunt led by an obsessive Chicago lawman. Kudos to Jobb for unearthing this overlooked story and bringing to life a charming, witty, naughty, iconic American crook." -- Neal Thompson, author of A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert "Believe It or Not!" Ripley
Dewey Edition
23
Dewey Decimal
364.16/3092 B
Synopsis
"A brilliantly researched tale of greed, ambition, and our desperate need to believe in magic, it''s history that captures America as it really was--and always will be. A great read." --Douglas Perry, author of Eliot Ness It was a time of unregulated madness. And nowhere was it madder than in Chicago at the dawn of the Roaring Twenties. As Model Ts rumbled down Michigan Avenue, gang war shootings announced Al Capone''s rise to underworld domination. Bedecked partygoers thronged to the Drake Hotel''s opulent banquet rooms, corrupt politicians held court in thriving speakeasies, and the frenzy of stock market gambling was rampant. Enter a slick, smooth-talking, charismatic lawyer named Leo Koretz, who enticed hundreds of people (who should have known better) to invest as much as $30 million--upwards of $400 million today--in phantom timberland and nonexistent oil wells in Panama. It was an ingenious deceit, one that out-ponzied Charles Ponzi himself, who only a few years earlier had been arrested for a pyramid scheme. Leo had a good run--his was perhaps the longest fraud in history--and when his enterprise finally collapsed in 1923, he vanished. The Cook County state''s attorney, a man whose lust for power equaled Leo''s own lust for money, began an international manhunt that lasted almost a year. When finally apprehended, Leo was living a life of luxury in Nova Scotia under the assumed identity of a book dealer and literary critic. A salacious court hearing followed, and his mysterious death in a Chicago prison rivaled the rest of his almost-too-bizarre-to-believe life. A rip-roaring tale of greed, financial corruption, dirty politics, over-the-top and under-the-radar deceit, illicit sex, and a brilliant and wildly charming con man on the town and then on the lam, Empire of Deception has it all. It''s not only a rich and detailed account of a man and an era; it''s a fascinating look at the methods of swindlers throughout history. Leo Koretz was the Bernie Madoff of his day, and Dean Jobb shows us that the American dream of easy wealth is timeless. "The granddaddy of all con men, Leo Koretz gives Jobb the opportunity to exhibit his impressive research and storytelling skills . . . [Jobb] keeps readers on edge . . . as they wait to see if Koretz might just get away with it. A highly readable, entertaining story." -- Kirkus Reviews "A captivating tale of high-flying financial chicanery in 1920s Chicago. Dean Jobb tells the story of Leo Koretz, a legendary con artist of Madoffian audacity, with terrific energy and narrative brio." --Gary Krist, author of Empire of Sin "A dramatic read and a useful lesson!" --Michael Korda, author of Charmed Lives "Begin with a Bernie Madoff-wolf-in-sheep''s-clothing con man pursued by a power-hungry public prosecutor; add the great hog-trough feeding frenzy of 1920s Chicago; stir with great writing and enterprising research; and there you have it: a wonderfully entertaining read!" --Michael Lesy, author of Murder City "Dean Jobb''s story of con man Leo and his pathetically gullible and mostly rich victims perfectly captures the flavor of Chicago in the Roaring Twenties. What a great caper movie this would make!" --Marq de Villiers, author of Our Way Out "Reads like a Gatsby-Ponzi mashup. A guilty-pleasure reminder that the most audacious bad guys have always been the most entertaining. Kudos to Jobb for unearthing this overlooked story and bringing to life a charming, witty, naughty, iconic American crook." --Neal Thompson, author of A Curious Man "Dean Jobb has found a fascinating yet little-known jazz-age tale and told it with style and smarts." --Jonathan Eig, author of Get Capone, "A brilliantly researched tale of greed, ambition, and our desperate need to believe in magic, it's history that captures America as it really was--and always will be. A great read." --Douglas Perry, author of Eliot Ness It was a time of unregulated madness. And nowhere was it madder than in Chicago at the dawn of the Roaring Twenties. As Model Ts rumbled down Michigan Avenue, gang war shootings announced Al Capone's rise to underworld domination. Bedecked partygoers thronged to the Drake Hotel's opulent banquet rooms, corrupt politicians held court in thriving speakeasies, and the frenzy of stock market gambling was rampant. Enter a slick, smooth-talking, charismatic lawyer named Leo Koretz, who enticed hundreds of people (who should have known better) to invest as much as $30 million--upwards of $400 million today--in phantom timberland and nonexistent oil wells in Panama. It was an ingenious deceit, one that out-ponzied Charles Ponzi himself, who only a few years earlier had been arrested for a pyramid scheme. Leo had a good run--his was perhaps the longest fraud in history--and when his enterprise finally collapsed in 1923, he vanished. The Cook County state's attorney, a man whose lust for power equaled Leo's own lust for money, began an international manhunt that lasted almost a year. When finally apprehended, Leo was living a life of luxury in Nova Scotia under the assumed identity of a book dealer and literary critic. A salacious court hearing followed, and his mysterious death in a Chicago prison rivaled the rest of his almost-too-bizarre-to-believe life. A rip-roaring tale of greed, financial corruption, dirty politics, over-the-top and under-the-radar deceit, illicit sex, and a brilliant and wildly charming con man on the town and then on the lam, Empire of Deception has it all. It's not only a rich and detailed account of a man and an era; it's a fascinating look at the methods of swindlers throughout history. Leo Koretz was the Bernie Madoff of his day, and Dean Jobb shows us that the American dream of easy wealth is timeless. "The granddaddy of all con men, Leo Koretz gives Jobb the opportunity to exhibit his impressive research and storytelling skills . . . Jobb] keeps readers on edge . . . as they wait to see if Koretz might just get away with it. A highly readable, entertaining story." -- Kirkus Reviews "A captivating tale of high-flying financial chicanery in 1920s Chicago. Dean Jobb tells the story of Leo Koretz, a legendary con artist of Madoffian audacity, with terrific energy and narrative brio." --Gary Krist, author of Empire of Sin "A dramatic read and a useful lesson " --Michael Korda, author of Charmed Lives "Begin with a Bernie Madoff-wolf-in-sheep's-clothing con man pursued by a power-hungry public prosecutor; add the great hog-trough feeding frenzy of 1920s Chicago; stir with great writing and enterprising research; and there you have it: a wonderfully entertaining read " --Michael Lesy, author of Murder City "Dean Jobb's story of con man Leo and his pathetically gullible and mostly rich victims perfectly captures the flavor of Chicago in the Roaring Twenties. What a great caper movie this would make " --Marq de Villiers, author of Our Way Out "Reads like a Gatsby-Ponzi mashup. A guilty-pleasure reminder that the most audacious bad guys have always been the most entertaining. Kudos to Jobb for unearthing this overlooked story and bringing to life a charming, witty, naughty, iconic American crook." --Neal Thompson, author of A Curious Man "Dean Jobb has found a fascinating yet little-known jazz-age tale and told it with style and smarts." --Jonathan Eig, author of Get Capone
LC Classification Number
HV6692.K67J63 2015
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