American Goliath - Softcover

Jacobs, Mr. Harvey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312194382 ISBN 13: 9780312194383

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 1998

Synopsis

The slumbering giant awakens! In 1869, well-diggers in upstate New York discovered a stone man of gigantic proportions. The "find" became an instant sensation. But was he a petrified man from the time of Genesis? A statue from antiquity?

This "Cardiff Giant" was in fact the brainchild of George Hull, scion of a wealthy cigar manufacturer. Their fantabulous story-published to great acclaim in hardcover-proves that at 128 years young Goliath still knows how to pack the house!

About this title

From the Publisher:

Praise for AMERICAN GOLIATH:

"A cheerful celebration of a big American myth...An inspired novel." -TIME

"Here in our wonderful American past you will find wonders rarely glimpsed before. Behold the greatest showman in the history of the ages! Gaze upon the ancient giant turned to stone! Marvel at our hero, as entertaining in his own way as Little Egypt! Lookup on the amazing world of Harvey Jacobs! Come one, come all, for an experience never to be forgotten!" --Fred Chappell, author of FAREWELL, I'M BOUND TO LEAVE YOU

"A fascinating picaresque novel ... stunningly inventive and charming fiction...arguably this year's best novel." --KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)

"An entertaining and clever comic novel...Jacobs assembles an all-American cast of characters, who offer varied perspectives on everything from entrepreneurship to politics, sex to ambition, loyalty to dreams.... The two giants also have speaking parts in AMERICAN GOLIATH, evolving from stonish poets to eloquent commentators on the human condition." --Linda Barrett Osborne, THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD

"Like the magnificent panoramas which used to travel the world depicting exemplary scenes from history, AMERICAN GOLIATH gives us detail, depth and vision. It is an old-fashioned American moral novel in the great American comic tradition. It is a wonderfully engrossing read. It is an enlightening and life-enhancing read. It is the best novel of a very fine writer and I recommend it to everyone who has given up hope of ever again being entertained at such a high level of aspiration." --Michael Moorcock, author of THE WAR AMONGST THE ANGELS

"Delightfully ribald and tongue-in-cheek account ... breathes life and magic into the P. T. Barnum era and a legendary hoax." --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"If Mark Twain and Isaac Bashevis Singer went on a bender and collaborated on a novel, it would be AMERICAN GOLIATH! Harvey Jacobs's masterpiece is a bawdy, joyous romp. It's a wonderful book." --Jack Dann, author of THE SILENT

From the Back Cover:

In 1868, an Iowa preacher proclaimed America to be the land of Genesis. George Hull, scion of a wealthy New York family of cigar makers, set out to prove the sermon right. And thus was born that marvel of marvels, the Cardiff Giant.

"Found" in 1869 on Stubby Newell's farm in Cardiff, New York, Goliath created more of a stir than any of P.T. Barnum's great exhibits-which piqued the interest of the Great Showman himself, who was never to be outdone when it came to separating suckers from their riches....

The story of Goliath and his creator is a witty, raucous, and magical tale of American life at its finest. Step right up and see!

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0312194382
• ISBN 13: 9780312194383
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352