£2 Talk ‘Skulduggery, cowpats and buried gold’: The piratical tale of Masquerade, the book that launched the world’s biggest treasure hunt, with David Bramwell

‘Skulduggery, cowpats and buried gold’: The piratical tale of Masquerade, the book that launched the world’s biggest treasure hunt.

Masquerade was a book that, in 1979, everyone bought but no-one could figure out. By burying a real golden hare as prize for solving the book’s riddles, artist Kit Williams created 2 million armchair sleuths and inspired thousands of treasure seekers from around the world to spend two years digging up the English countryside vainly searching for the treasure. Laker Airways even set up ‘Masquerade Vacations’, offering Americans a hotel in the centre of the UK, car hire and a good spade. Some were literally driven to madness by the hunt. After two years the hare was unearthed by old-fashioned piratical skullduggery. But things didn’t stop there:

Masquerade inspired more disastrous treasure hunts from the likes of Cadbury’s Creme Egg, it led to the creation of the world’s worst computer game, a media investigation into fraud and an ill-fated musical. Then, after an auction at Sotherby’s the hare disappeared. How was Masquerade solved? Who found it? Where is the hare now?

A rollicking rollercoaster of a story told with humour and passion.

David Bramwell has made programmes for BBC Radio 3 and 4 on subjects ranging from Ivor Cutler to the art of public speaking. He presents Adventures in Nutopia podcast and hosts Brighton’s Catalyst Club. He is the author of
many books including The Long Man and Friends, Ghosts of the Medicine Show, The Cult of Water and The Odditorium.

Tickets also available on the door or from Port Hall Stores (cash).