The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen
by Rudolf Erich Raspe
It was instantly a bestseller and glorified as a comic sensation in the satirical spirit of Gulliver's Travels and Tom Jones. The Baron's fantastically exaggerated accounts of military adventures and hunting experiences make this one of the most interesting books of all time. Her impressive accomplishments include dribbling, traveling to the moon, and getting herself out of the swamp with her own hair. We, the undersigned, defend most seriously that all the adventures of our friend Baron Munchausen are positive and simple facts. We hope that all true believers will give him their full faith and trust. (signed) GULLIVER. SINBAD. ALADDIN." The author himself led a life worthy of a high fairy tale: a naturalist, an antiquarian, a scientist and a thief, with Daniel Dafoe and Jonathan Swift as his nominal figures as one of the great "travel liars".
