Published: February 22, 2009 11:24 pm      

City native investigates literacy fraud

CUMBERLAND — Were the Dead Sea Scrolls written in China? Could Geroge Washington have actually lied? Who is the woman in that picture really? Is that autograph authentic?

These are all questions W.J. Elvin III, Cumberland native and resident of Upper Fairmount, asks himself while investigating stories of frauds and follies for both his column on LiteratEye and for his newly published book, “Fiona: Mysteries & Curiosities of Literary Fraud & Folly.”

“A lot of what was being done on literary fraud was academic, just addressed to scholars,” Elvin said. “So I wanted to do something in a journalistic way and feature stories.”

So instead of selling single stories, Elvin decided to published a book-like magazine that focuses on literary fraud and folly.

The publication begins by explaining why it is titled “Fiona.”

“Fiona Macleod was a very popular but recluse poet, no one ever saw her,” Elvin said. “She had a lot of fans and admirers that would even propose marriage to her and other various things because she wrote lovely, lilting old poems. In 1905 a man named William Sharp died and his wife called a press conference. There she told the public that Fiona Macleod was her husband, William Sharp.”

The publication then delves into a small collection of mysteries and farces.

The first article is about a man who claimed the Dead Sea Scrolls were actually written in China. Another is about an old-fashioned pin-up photo that claims the model is Josie Earp, wife of Wyatt Earp. There is even an article based on an old story that suggested George Washington lied.

When researching for his articles, Elvin said he tries to find a primary source but that can prove to be a difficult task when dealing with historical topics.

“Sometimes you just have to find an expert,” he said. “I guess that’s the whole thing, find out who knows the most about the topic and try to get them to tell you the story.”

Elvin adds his interest in the literary fraud and folly is from his background in journalism, namely investigative journalism.

“I ask myself if a story is too good to be true and then I start asking questions. It’s like reporting,” he said. “This is a way to continue reporting for me ... a way to keep researching, investigating and digging into stories.”

And though Elvin loves writing and researching, he does run into frustrations with his work.

“Dead ends, that’s the worst,” he said. “I don’t have a big publication budget behind me now. It use to be if I was working for a magazine and they wanted me to check something out in a library in Miami, I would just hop on a plane and go. Now, if I can’t find a cooperative librarian on the Internet I’m kind of stuck.”

And though he has run into these roadblocks time and again, Elvin still finds himself intrigued with his line of work.

“People’s gullibility, that’s the most interesting,” Elvin said. “People want to believe so they do. Having been a reporter and a magazine writer all my life I’m kind of skeptical because a lot of stories, when you dig into them, you find there’s often a lot of fluff that needs to be weeded out to get to the real story. Right now people seem so accepting, we don’t ask questions of things anymore.”

And with “Fiona,” Elvin hopes to start bringing the healthy skepticism and questioning out of people.

“Fiona” is the first edition of the publication. Elvin plans on releasing a new edition at least once a year and, in the event the book-like magazine takes off, will publish editions more often.

Copies of the publication can be ordered at Amazon.com. Elvin’s blog can be read at http://litfraud.blogspot.com and his column for LiteratEye can be seen at http:// pranks.com/category/the-world-of-the-prank/literary-hoaxes.

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.