The Story of I, Libertine
by Ed Sawicki March 23, 2025
1921-1999
Jean Shepherd was an American storyteller, humorist, radio and TV personality, writer, and actor. He went by the name Shep. He had a radio show on WOR Radio in New York from 1955 to 1977 that aired from midnight to 5:00 AM. I listened to his show often in the 1960s.
WOR Radio at 710 kHz was a 50,000-watt clear-channel broadcaster. In the early morning hours, WOR's signal could be heard several hundred and often thousands of miles away. Shep's listeners were a far-flung crowd, and they were proud that Shep called them "night people." He made them feel better informed than the "day people."
One day, he asked his listeners to take part in a hoax to see how booksellers would react to a large number of requests for a book that did not exist. He asked his listeners for a book title and settled on the title I, Libertine, and the fictitious author Frederick R. Ewing.
For weeks, his listeners contacted their local bookstores and asked for the book. They'd mention the book to friends, bring up the book at book clubs, and other venues. The result was tremendous.
The stunt thoroughly fooled the book industry and the press, with one popular newspaper columnist claiming that he had lunch with the non-existent author. It appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. Demand for the book was huge, including from overseas markets.
That huge demand drew the attention of publisher Ian Ballentine of Ballentine Books. Shep's friend, author Theodore Sturgeon, introduced him to Ian, and they decided to write a book with that title. Sturgeon wrote the book in six weeks with the help of Shep, Ian's wife Betty, and Shep's radio show listeners. Sturgeon would call into Shep's show to discuss the book's plot, inviting suggestions from listeners.
Illustrator Frank Kelly Freas produced the cover artwork. Shep's photo was used for the fictional Ewing.
1918–1985
1922-2005
1919-2019
When Shep revealed the hoax to the press in September 1956, there was a huge uproar. It's doubtful that there was any newspaper in the United States that did not print the story.
The story was carried by the media worldwide. In England, the Derby Evening Telegraph's story was titled Literary hoax of century sent thousands seeking a book that had never been written!The book is available today. Click the cover image above to see the book on Amazon.
There are many more details of this hoax that are described by Shep in this audio:
References
NY Times: Betty Ballantine, Who Helped Introduce Paperbacks, Dies at 99