{"product_id":"9780544262287","title":"The Lost Tribe of Coney Island: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled Off the Spectacle of the Century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eShortlisted for the 2015 Brooklyn Eagles Literary Prize\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAmazon Best Book of the Month, History – October 2014\u003ci\u003eNew York Post\u003c\/i\u003e “must read” – October 2014\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConey Island, summer 1905: a new attraction opened at Luna Park. Within weeks it would be the talk of the nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the first time, \u003ci\u003eThe Lost Tribe of Coney Island\u003c\/i\u003e unearths the incredible true story of the Igorrotes, a group of “headhunting, dog eating” tribespeople brought to America from the Philippines by the opportunistic showman Truman K. Hunt. At Luna Park, the g-string-clad Filipinos performed native dances and rituals before a wide-eyed public in a mocked-up tribal village. Millions of Americans flocked to see the tribespeople slaughter live dogs for their daily canine feasts and to hear thrilling tales of headhunting. The Igorrotes became a national sensation—they were written up in newspaper headlines, portrayed in cartoons, and even featured in advertising jingles, all fueled by Truman’s brilliant publicity stunts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBy the end of the summer season, the Igorrote show had made Truman a rich man. But his genius had a dark side and soon he would be on the run across America with the tribe in tow, pursued by ex-wives, creditors, Pinkerton detectives, and the tireless agents of American justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAward-winning journalist Claire Prentice brings this forgotten chapter in American history to life with vivid prose and rich historical detail. The book boasts a colorful cast of characters, including the mercurial Truman Hunt; his ambitious, young Filipino interpreter, Julio Balinag; Fomoaley Ponci, the tribe’s loquacious, self-important leader; Luna Park impresarios Fred Thompson and Elmer “Skip” Dundy; and Frederick Barker, the government man dead set on bringing Truman to justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt its heart, \u003ci\u003eThe Lost Tribe of Coney Island\u003c\/i\u003e is a tale of what happens when two cultures collide in the pursuit of money, adventure, and the American Dream. It is a story that makes us question who is civilized and who is savage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Houghton Mifflin Harcourt","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47023205023984,"sku":"9780544262287","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780544262287_p0.jpg?v=1763711990","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780544262287","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}