Review of "The Impossibly True Story of Tricky Vic, the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower," by Greg Pizzoli

 Review of

The Impossibly True Story of Tricky Vic, the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower, by Greg Pizzoli, ISBN 9780670016525

Five out of five stars

Chronicle of an amazing life

 Born in 1890 in what is now the Czech Republic, the man originally called Robert Miller went under forty-five different aliases and once actually sold the Eiffel Tower using the name Count Victor Lustig. Hence the name “Tricky Vic” in the title.  His list of other scams is considerable, he was also a counterfeiter and played a scam called the Romanian money box. It was a simple device loaded with a couple of valid bills that supposedly printed out $100 bills.

 This account of the life and times of one of history’s most well-traveled and experienced con men is a joy to read. It also contains a very serious lesson, Robert Miller ended up in Alcatraz prison after being convicted of counterfeiting. He left the prison due to serious illness and died shortly afterward..

 Robert Miller et. al. was a case in point of the statement, “Once a con man, always a con man.” He was certainly an expansive thinker, and it is unfortunate that he did not use his obvious intelligence to earn an honest living.  The book is heavily illustrated with artwork that is minimalist, yet expressive.

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