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A review by stevenyenzer
The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor by Mark Seal
4.0
A harrowing and superbly researched story. It is truly hard to imagine how Christian Gerhartsreiter could have fooled so many people for so long, but his success is a testament to human credulity and to his talents as a deceiver.
The Man in the Rockefeller Suit provided an interesting look into the lives of American aristocracy, a world in which the right name and knowledge can get you farther than actually having money or any accomplishments. I wonder whether Gerhartsreiter would have had more or less success impersonated a more modest character.
It's also interesting to think about Gerhartsreiter's relationship with his multiple identities. I can't imagine he saw himself as Christian Gerhartsreiter, a German immigrant pretending to be a variety of American aristocrats. For almost 30 years he was not "himself," it seems, to anyone. Did he completely lose his relationship with his "true" identity? Did he become each character in turn, feeling that each one was really his true identity? Or did he forge a constant beneath all of the lies?
It also made me think about what identity truly is. Lying to others about your heritage, wealth, occupation, etc. is one thing. But would simply presenting yourself as a man with a famous name, a preppy outfit, and an upper-class accent be truly lying? How much self-deception is he allowing others to do? Gerhartsreiter succeeded by allowing others to believe what they wanted to believe and, in some cases, allowing them to think they were exploiting their connection with an American aristocrat.
The Man in the Rockefeller Suit provided an interesting look into the lives of American aristocracy, a world in which the right name and knowledge can get you farther than actually having money or any accomplishments. I wonder whether Gerhartsreiter would have had more or less success impersonated a more modest character.
It's also interesting to think about Gerhartsreiter's relationship with his multiple identities. I can't imagine he saw himself as Christian Gerhartsreiter, a German immigrant pretending to be a variety of American aristocrats. For almost 30 years he was not "himself," it seems, to anyone. Did he completely lose his relationship with his "true" identity? Did he become each character in turn, feeling that each one was really his true identity? Or did he forge a constant beneath all of the lies?
It also made me think about what identity truly is. Lying to others about your heritage, wealth, occupation, etc. is one thing. But would simply presenting yourself as a man with a famous name, a preppy outfit, and an upper-class accent be truly lying? How much self-deception is he allowing others to do? Gerhartsreiter succeeded by allowing others to believe what they wanted to believe and, in some cases, allowing them to think they were exploiting their connection with an American aristocrat.