Clifford irving, author of fake autobiography of howard. Irvings book, however, is supposedly an oral history, with irving asking questions and hughes answering them. With richard gere, alfred molina, david aaron baker, john carter. It reads like a novel, in the sense that its thrilling, and you understand clifford irving to the bone. The howard hughes hoax in 1970, authors clifford irving and richard suskind concocted a scheme to forge an autobiography of notoriously eccentric and reclusive billionaire howard hughes.
Finally, hughes goes public, via a televised conference call, to deny any knowledge of irving or the book. Aug 05, 2015 clifford irving autobiography of howard hughes 1971. Its the story of a writer who hoodwinked the world by writing the hoax autobiography of billionaire howard hughes, and paid the price by going to prison. Mar 27, 2006 in 1972, howard hughes appeared at the st. Clifford irving convinced his publishers that he had the authentic au. A second hoax biography was about to be serialized in ladies home journal. Clifford irving, whose audacious scheme to publish a fake autobiography of reclusive billionaire howard hughes stands as one of the great literary hoaxes, has died at a hospice facility in florida. Dummar offers his autograph in 2005 upon the release of a book about his. Dec 21, 2017 clifford irving walks into federal court in 1972. Jan 26, 2018 an episode from the series great crimes and trials collection narrated by robert powell. Julie irving, the authors sixth wife, told the new york times that irving died in a hospice in sarasota, florida, just a week after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, afp. The inside story of the howard hughesclifford irving affair 1972, an impartial if at times exhausting account of the events, wrote that irving got more ink in american newspapers than the vietnam war or the impending presidential election.
How did mystery man go from howard hughes hoax to being. Clifford irving, whose audacious scheme to publish a fake autobiography of reclusive billionaire howard hughes stands as one of the great literary hoaxes, has. Time magazine said the same thing, and life magazine also claimed the book was authentic. Melvin dummar, who claimed to be heir to howard hughes. Clifford irving, whose scheme to publish a phony autobiography of billionaire howard hughes created a sensation in the 1970s and stands as one of the alltime literary hoaxes, died after being. Clifford irving, the globetrotting novelist and supposed biographer of the late american billionaire howard hughes. In 2012, the fake hughes autobiography was published under the title clifford irvings autobiography of howard hughes as an ebook. Howard hughes, american aviator, manufacturer, and motionpicture producer and director who acquired enormous wealth and celebrity from his various ventures but was perhaps better known for his eccentricities, especially his reclusiveness.
Dummar, signing copies of his book in 2005, never received the onesixteenth portion of the estate that he says billionaire industrialist howard hughes left him. Clifford michael irving november 5, 1930 december 19, 2017 was an american novelist and investigative reporter. Typically living in luxury hotels, he sought absolute privacy and was rarely seen by anyone except a few male aides. We do not use stock photos, the picture displayed is of the actual book for sale. Confessions of an unhappy billionaire kindle edition by irving, clifford. The fictional work was to have been published in 1972. Howard hughess biography clifford irving claimed to have been commissioned by hughes himself to write a life of the notorious recluse. Regis hotel in nyc, wrapped in bandages, claiming that he was going to be frozen through cryogenics and return when the stock market peaked. Clifford irving, author of notorious howard hughes literary. Clifford irving, whose autobiography of howard hughes. American novelist clifford irving, who wrote a fake autobiography of billionaire howard hughes, died tuesday at age 87.
Even though this is not an autobiography as told by hughes, clifford irving is a good writer, and this fictional account is based on his research of howard hughes life. It turned out to be a hoax, with the book actually the result of irvings painstaking research combined with fiction, and irving was sent to prison. In 1971, clifford irving tried to pull off the literary. This book has the ring of truth to it, and that is unmistakeable. May 19, 2011 time magazine said the same thing, and life magazine also claimed the book was authentic.
Clifford irving, pictured in 1974, says he gave howard hughes a better life. Clifford irving, author of howard hughes literary hoax. Irving served 17 months in federal prison for fraud after hughes emerged to condemn the work as a fabrication. An episode from the series great crimes and trials collection narrated by robert powell.
Jan 01, 1982 clifford irving convinced his publishers that he had the authentic autobiography of the eccentric tycoon howard hughes. Clifford irving, howard hughes book prankster, has died at. The famed autobiography of howard hughes, the book that almost ended irvings career, was published on the. If its unexplained its here help us continue to grow by sharing. British journalists stephen fay, lewis chester, and magnus linklater, the authors of hoax. It is written in a journalistic fashion, with many leads explored to their logical conclusion. But no american hardcover house would touch the hoax until now. Join facebook to connect with howard hughes and others you may know. Clifford irving, author of notorious howard hughes. Listen to howard hughes breaks his silence history. And in 1999, via the internet, the curious could even purchase a copy of his revised autobiography of howard hughes. The inside story of the howard hughesclifford irving.
Clifford irving, howard hughes book prankster, has died at 87. Nov 27, 2005 his book the hoax has also had various printings. The unexplained with howard hughes free paranormal podcast. An american expatriate living on the spanish island of. He first became prominent as a film producer, and then as an influential. The hoax is a film about the legendary howard hughes in the 1970s and a writers desperate attempt at fame and fortune through deception and lies.
Written by the men who carried it out, this book describes the hoax, their attempt to write a fictitious life of howard hughes and cash in on it. In what would cause a fantastic media frenzy, clifford irving sells. For seven years drosnin, now 37, has stuffed himself with information about howard hughes and now, as he defends his book, his knowledge tends to tumble out in a cascade of words. The ultimate caper story, novelist clifford irvings noholdsbarred account of the literary hoax that stunned the publishing world, is the story of his faked autobiography of howard hughes. With the help of friend richard suskind, irving does research, lucks into a manuscript written by a longtime hughes associate, and plays. In 1950 hughes went into complete seclusion, and his mental health declined. Although he published 20 novels, he is best known for an autobiography allegedly written as told to irving by billionaire recluse howard hughes.
Hughes, howard, 19051976, irving, clifford publisher new york, viking press collection. As the hoax unravels, irving finds himself alone in his room conversing with hughes aide about his role in the affair and the pressures of keeping up the complex web of deceits. He often worked for days without sleep in a blackcurtained room. Clifford irving, a writer, with the help of his wife edith and an associate, richard suskind, also a writer, convinced the editorial staffs of mcgrawhill book co. Dec 20, 2017 in 2012, the fake hughes autobiography was published under the title clifford irvings autobiography of howard hughes as an ebook.
In what would cause a fantastic media frenzy, clifford irving sells his bogus biography of howard hughes to a premiere publishing house in the early 1970s. A handwriting expert said the hughes letters were genuine, while a lie detector test was inconclusive. Clifford irving, howard hughes prankster, has died at 87. Howard hughes led an incredible, bizarre life, and there are plenty of honestlywritten, wellresearched books on the subject. Clifford irving, whose scheme to publish a phony autobiography of billionaire howard hughes created a sensation in the 1970s and stands as.
Irvings autobiography of howard hughes was one of the biggest literary scandals of the 20th century and landed him in jail. The author clifford irving, who has died aged 87, was best known for writing what became the most famous unpublished book of the 20th. That said, this was a hugely entertaining book about irvings attempt to fake the autobiography of reclusive billionaire howard hughes. Dec 21, 2017 the hughes hoax followed irvings book fake. Early in 1971, the publishing company mcgrawhill passes on clifford irvings new novel. Dec 21, 2017 clifford irving, whose audacious scheme to publish a fake autobiography of reclusive billionaire howard hughes stands as one of the great literary hoaxes, has died at a hospice facility in florida. After hughes denounced him and sued the publisher, mcgrawhill, irving and.
Clifford irving, above, is involved with one of the most bizarre episodes in the life of late billionaire howard hughes, having written with his wife, edith, a hoax autobiography of the financier. How did mystery man go from howard hughes hoax to being witness at one of seattles biggest murder cases. The clifford irving hoax of the howard hughes autobiography. December 24, 1905 april 5, 1976 was an american business magnate, investor, recordsetting pilot, engineer, film director, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most financially successful individuals in the world. Melvin dummar, purported heir to howard hughes estate. Assuming that hughes would never come out from hiding to denounce the book, they felt that their plan was foolproof. The hoax was first published in great britain in 1997, where it became a bestseller. The hoax drew the reclusive millionaire, howard hughes, out of seclusion to dispel the pending book. Clifford irving convinced his publishers that he had the authentic autobiography of the eccentric tycoon howard hughes.
This wasnt the book i was looking for but my library didnt have the clifford irving hoax book. In january 1972, the reclusive billionaire howard hughes speaks to reporters and reveals clifford irvings book to be a spectacular literary hoax. Join awardwinning uk based broadcaster and journalist howard hughes for a galactic ride through the weird, science, conspiracies, space, the afterlife, other dimensions. Clifford irving, whose scheme to publish a phony autobiography of billionaire howard hughes created a sensation in the 1970s and stands as one of the alltime literary hoaxes. Irving wrote the book the hoax documenting the elaborate scheme behind the book. Every one of our books is in stock in the uk ready for immediate delivery. His story was featured in orson welless final film f for fake. Hughes was known for being an eccentric and a recluse. Howard hughes was intelligent, ambitious, and adventurous. Hes desperate for money, so, against the backdrop of nixons reelection calculations, irving claims he has howard hughess cooperation to write hughess autobiography. A startling book throws light on howard hughes murky politics. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1.