Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff

A comprehensive history of fraud in America, from the early nineteenth century to the subprime mortgage crisis

In America, fraud has always been a key feature of business, and the national worship of entrepreneurial freedom complicates the task of distinguishing salesmanship from deceit. In this sweeping narrative, Edward Balleisen traces the history of fraud in America—and the evolving efforts to combat it—from the age of P. T. Barnum through the eras of Charles Ponzi and Bernie Madoff. Thi...