The Hoax, an essay by John Berendt was originally published in Esquire.

Berendts essay is probably loved by his usual Esquire readers. Other audiences that would be intrigued by this essay would be those who appreciate hoaxes. Through these people, the audience can figure out that a good hoax must not only have magic in it, but talent in its execution. For example, the Dutch artist, Hans van Meegeren was able to pull a prank and later manage to save his own life because of his artistic talent. He had fooled art dealers, collectors, and museums through his art pieces (354). One does not only need to be a talented artist, but the skilled impersonator. Humorist Robert Benchley would have not succeeded his prank of taking the sofa if it has not been for his excellent acting skills. If he had cracked a smile while telling the housekeeper they had come to pick up the sofa, he probably would have been reported to the police (353). Throughout the essay, Berendt shares his admiration of a good hoax and what characterizes a hoax from being called a prank. Berendt illustrates countless examples of what makes a perfect hoax. He tells his readers early on in the story that to qualify as a hoax, a prank must have magic in it (Berendt 354). He then goes on to tell the audience that this is because the word, hoax, is derived from hocus-pocus. To emphasize his own definition of a hoax, Berendt vividly shares many entertaining and magical experiences of other hoaxsters. The very first sentence of Berendts essay sets the ground rule of what a flawless hoax would look like. He tells a story of a humorist, Robert Benchley, who was an undergraduate at Harvard, impersonate both a furniture repairmen and a deliverymen. Berendt explains that they [furniture repairmen] had come to pick up the sofadrove it three blocks away to another house, where posing as deliverymen, they plunked it down in the parlor (353). Some people would think that Benchley crossed the line with these neighbors, but the hoax lovers would think this was genius. Knowing that the couple living in house A were due to attend a party in house B, Benchley purposely picked that date so couple A would notice their own sofa at house B. Newells hoax is another great example of how a good hoax should be performed. He was a farmer who claimed that he dug up a fossilized remains of a man twelve feet tall (355). Though the hoax was figure out quickly, the fossil became an even bigger attraction because it was a hoax. Newell got many money offers until his match, P.T. Barnum came and made a replica of Newells hoax. The author uses vocabulary that is easy to read, while still sounding educated. The author says, Hampton is a member of an elite band of famous imposters (Berendt 3). Instead of writing Hampton is a prankster or a sentence along that line, Berendt uses words such as elite band and famous imposters to add artistry and color to his essay. His word choice allows him to sound intelligent, yet readers are still able to understand what he is trying to say. Berendts sentences are usually independent clauses that are ordered subject then verb. For example, the sentences Forgeries have been among the better hoaxes (4), The consequences of hoaxes are what give them spice (7), and It contained the sofas slipcovers (7) are all independent clauses that start with the subject then verb. Also commonly used is the dependent clause then independent clause structure. Berendt writes To prove he was not a Nazi, he admitted he had sold a fake (4), In a bizarre twist, a story much like Van Meegerens became the subject (5), and As it happens, we are used to hoaxes where I come from (6), which all start with a dependent clause followed by an independent clause. However, the sentence that is paragraph 3 (Hampton is a member of an eliteRussian prince Mike Romanoff.) is a compound sentence with multiple independent clauses. The author does this because he was listing examples of famous hoaxes. In his essay, Berendt appears appreciative of hoaxes, stating that they have magic (2) and spice (7), which are positive words that prove that Berendt appreciates a good hoax. He also sounds proud, calling hoaxes a respectable realm in the many levels of practical jokes (1), as if leveling up is a great honor to pranksters.

The essay was successful at defining hoaxes, which is a prank with magic (2). It also gives many examples of hoaxes through history such as a half-mad woman who for fifty years claimed to be Anastasia and Harry Gergusonas the ersatz Russian prince Mike Romanoff (3). Berendt also explains other hoaxes in great detail such as Hans van Meegern (4) and the Cardiff Giant (6). By giving examples, the reader is able to better understand what a hoax is and how elaborate and intelligent it is. It is also an entertaining read because of his word choice such as plunked (1). He also tells an anecdote at the beginning of the essay, uses the middle to explain his definition of a hoax, and ends the essay with a punch line that also ends the anecdote. It is clever and humorous.