The Great Diamond Hoax

A restless teenager from Kentucky’s frontier, Asbury Harpending fled college to join a filibustering venture in Nicaragua, only to be intercepted by the U.S. government and sent wandering westward. With a handful of gold coins, a revolver, and a few state‑issued bills, he boarded an overcrowded steamer for Panama and then the Pacific Mail, confronting cramped conditions, scarcity, and the raw grit of a gold‑rush era migration.

Back in California, Harpending’s name became tangled in the infamous Great Diamond Hoax—a spectacular fraud that duped some of the era’s most prominent financiers. Determined to clear his reputation, he recounts the scheme’s origins, the eager investors, and his own unwitting role, offering a candid look at how a single deception could ripple through the financial world.

Beyond the scandal, the memoir paints vivid scenes of early California life: rugged landscapes, bustling ports, and the hopeful spirit of those who chased fortune on the western frontier. Listeners will find a blend of adventure, personal reflection, and a rare insider’s view of a pivotal moment in American history.