Imposter, fraudster, rogue. Beginning in her late teens, Sarah Wilson travelled England on wits alone, often reinventing herself as an aristocrat’s daughter and twisting her tale to match her mark. She fooled the rich, the poor and the powerful into providing her with food, shelter, money and expensive clothes. Eventually caught and transported to America, she escaped her new master and resumed her dishonest scheming. This time it was the ruse of a lifetime: she became the honoured guest of the rich plantation owners of the deep south as Queen Charlotte’s sister. So successful was her deception that she remained the queen’s sister: she was in Boston during the Tea Party, and gained the support of various New England puritans and of active supporters of the American Revolution. Based on evidence in contemporary documents, here R.J. Clarke captures the atmosphere of the era and takes the reader along to experience Sarah’s dishonest but remarkable adventures. AUTHOR: R.J. Clarke is a volunteer researcher for the Victoria County History Hampshire project, and an established author whose detailed and ground-breaking research turned up a fascinating real-life Moll Flanders in the form of Sarah Wilson. He gives regular talks on historical subjects and has appeared on television, including on The One Show. He lives in Basingstoke.
30 b/w illustrations