Seal, Mark. The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor. New York: Plume. 2011. Print.
First Sentences:
Description:
If this book interests you, be sure to check out:
Abagnale, Frank. Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake
The public's first glimpse at the "real" Clark Rockefeller was on May 28, 2009 at the Suffolk County Superior Court in downtown BostonHordes of spectators and press were eager to finally get a good look at the mystery man who had simultaneously fascinated and horrified Bostonians for nearly a year.
Description:
Whoever said "Truth is stranger than fiction" must have had the odd life of Clark Rockefeller in mind - mainly because there never was a "Clark Rockefeller." There was only Christian Gerhartsreiter passing himself off at parties, in communities, in marriage, and even fatherhood for twelve years as Clark Rockefeller, the distant cousin of the famous Rockefeller family.
Mark Seal in his utterly chilling, fascinating research into this man, brings readers deeply into the weird, unique world of The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor.
We are introduced to "Clark Rockefeller" in the opening pages as he kidnaps his own daughter and tries to flee the country, only to be caught and brought to trial. It is during this trial that the court discovers there is no background data on this man and thus his impostor role is revealed.
Christian Gerhartsreiter previously had assumed many identities and personalities including a Wall Street trader and a relative of British royalty. Hitting on the idea of becoming an obscure Rockefeller was his most brilliant con. Everyone wanted the honor of rubbing shoulders with a Rockefeller, so no one bothered to check whether there actually was a "Clark Rockefeller."
Gerhartsreiter as Clark was able to marry a wealthy woman and produce a daughter. He also might have killed two men. It was his wife and her family who first began to have doubts about his true identity and began to investigate his origins, leading to divorce and his plans to kidnap his daughter.
It is an incredible, yet true story that cannot be put down, one of the best non-fiction accounts I can remember reading. Seal interviewed over 200 people about their experiences with "Clark," with many embarrassed to have been so completely taken in. But facing Gerhartsreiter's total command of the Clark character and strong personality would have been hard for anyone to have doubted his authenticity at the time.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a gem, all the more fascinating for being true. Certainly it is stranger than fiction.
Mark Seal in his utterly chilling, fascinating research into this man, brings readers deeply into the weird, unique world of The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor.
We are introduced to "Clark Rockefeller" in the opening pages as he kidnaps his own daughter and tries to flee the country, only to be caught and brought to trial. It is during this trial that the court discovers there is no background data on this man and thus his impostor role is revealed.
Christian Gerhartsreiter previously had assumed many identities and personalities including a Wall Street trader and a relative of British royalty. Hitting on the idea of becoming an obscure Rockefeller was his most brilliant con. Everyone wanted the honor of rubbing shoulders with a Rockefeller, so no one bothered to check whether there actually was a "Clark Rockefeller."
Gerhartsreiter as Clark was able to marry a wealthy woman and produce a daughter. He also might have killed two men. It was his wife and her family who first began to have doubts about his true identity and began to investigate his origins, leading to divorce and his plans to kidnap his daughter.
It is an incredible, yet true story that cannot be put down, one of the best non-fiction accounts I can remember reading. Seal interviewed over 200 people about their experiences with "Clark," with many embarrassed to have been so completely taken in. But facing Gerhartsreiter's total command of the Clark character and strong personality would have been hard for anyone to have doubted his authenticity at the time.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a gem, all the more fascinating for being true. Certainly it is stranger than fiction.
If this book interests you, be sure to check out:
Abagnale, Frank. Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake
Astonishing true memoir of Frank Abagnale who successfully passed himself off as a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, lawyer, and college professor, as well as a forger/casher of bogus checks. Riveting, clever, unbelievable story that is all real.
