The Biography of America's Lake Monster

REVIEWS] The Biography of America’s Lake Monster BENJAMIN RADFORD obert Bartholomew and his broth- er Paul grew up near the shores Rof Lake Champlain, which not The Untold Story of Champ: A Social History of America’s only sparked an early interest in the Loch Ness Monster. By Robert E. Bartholomew. lake monster said to dwell within the State University of New York Press, lake but also steeped them in the social Albany, New York, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-4384-4484-0. and cultural context of the mysterious 253 pp. Paperback, $24.95. beastie. In his new book, The Untold Story of Champ: A Social History of America’s Loch Ness Monster, Robert, a sociologist, Fortean investigator, and former broadcast journalist, takes a fresh look at Champ, long dubbed “America’s Loch Ness Monster.” Roy Mackal, and others who con- the Mansi photo, “New Information There have only been a handful of vened a 1981 conference titled, “Does Surfaces on ‘World’s Best Lake Mon- other books dealing in any depth or Champ Exist? A Scientific Seminar.” ster Photo,’ Raising Questions,” May/ scholarship with Champ, among them The intrigue between and among these June 2013.) Joe Zarzynski’s Champ: Beyond the Leg- researchers is interesting enough to fill Like virtually all “unexplained” phe- end, and of course Lake Monster Mys- several chapters. nomena, the history of Champ is in teries: Investigating the World’s Most There are several good books about part a history of hoaxes, and the book Elusive Creatures, coauthored by Joe the people involved in the search for examines several of them in detail, in- Nickell and myself. The Untold Story of Bigfoot, including Anatomy of a Beast: cluding a similar story from nearby Champ builds on these books and oth- Obsession and Myth on the Trail of Big- Lake George, which had its own lake ers, correcting some mistakes and put- foot by Michael McLeod, Bigfoot: The monster—and, of course, its own lake ting the information in its social and Life and Times of a Legend by Joshua monster hoax. Bartholomew’s book is, historical context—which, as I have Blu Buhs, and Searching for Sasquatch: at its heart, a skeptical book, but its goal often argued, is vitally important for Crackpots, Eggheads, and Cryptozoology is not to prove or disprove the creature’s truly understanding mysterious phe- by Brian Regal. But there has been existence. It is instead exactly what the nomena. Along the way, Bartholomew comparatively little insight into the subtitle announces: an objective social fills in fascinating gaps and details in motivations and personalities of those history of the creature covering nearly the story of Champ. searching for lake monsters, and this a century and half of sightings, discus- But Bartholomew does something book nicely fills that gap. sion, and debate, informed by folklore, that no other author has, taking us be- The book exhaustively reviews cryptozoology, Fortean studies, local hind the scenes for a glimpse at the Champ sightings, both early and mod- Vermont history, skepticism, and the colorful personalities that have gath- ern. Bartholomew uncovers common inevitable crackpot. ered over the years (and especially in myths along the way, such as that the Of interest to skeptics and believers the early 1980s when Champ fever was beast was first sighted by the explorer alike (and accessible to both the casual at its peak). The story of those who after whom the lake was named, Sam- mystery enthusiast and the academic re- looked for Champ is just as interesting uel de Champlain. The best evidence searcher), The Untold Story of Champ is as the story of Champ itself. Famed for Champ, the famous 1977 photo- one of the best books on the subject, and showman and huckster P.T. Barnum graph by Sandra Mansi, is presented it is especially recommended for those makes an important appearance (offer- in some detail, and the book offers with an interest in cryptozoology. n ing $50,000 for the monster’s carcass new, tantalizing revelations about the in 1873), as do many prominent cryp- circumstances of Mansi’s sighting and Benjamin Radford is deputy editor of the tozoologists, including Philip Reines, the publication of her photograph. (See Skeptical Inquirer and a member of the Loren Coleman, J. Richard Greenwell, also Bartholomew’s recent SI article on American Folklore Society. Skeptical Inquirer | July/August 2013 61.

Load more