The Untold Story of Champ: A Social History of America's Loch Ness Monster (Excelsior Editions)

The lake surface was glass. My girlfriend and I were fishing from our anchored rowboat in about fifteen feet of water, facing the New York shore. Ron, what s that? I turned. About thirty feet away I saw three dark humps protruding about two feet above the surface. The humps were perhaps two or three feet apart. They didn t move. We didn t either. We watched in disbelief for about ten seconds. The humps slowly sank into the water. There was no wake, no telltale sign of movement. Unexplained. Eerie. Unsettling. from the Foreword by Ronald S. Kermani Scotland may have Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, but we have Champ, the legendary serpent-like monster of Lake Champlain. The first recorded sighting of Champ, in 1609, has been attributed to the lake s namesake, French explorer and cartographer Samuel de Champlain. This is pure myth, but there have been hundreds of sightings since then. Robert E. Bartholomew embarks on his own search, both of the lake firsthand and through period sources and archives many never before published. Although he finds the trail obscured by sloppy journalism, local leaders motivated by tourism income, and bickering monster hunters, he weighs the evidence to craft a rich, colorful history of Champ. From the nineteenth century, when Champ was a household name, to 1977, when he appeared in Sandra Mansi s controversial photograph, Bartholomew covers it all. Real or imaginary, Champ and his story will fascinate believers and skeptics alike." This book presents the Champlain Monster like you have never seen him before. This warts and all biography of America's Loch Ness Monster by sociologist Robert Bartholomew breaks new ground by taking journalists to task for sloppy reporting, and criticizing local tourist bureaus for their singular focus on Champ Dollars. It presents the most complete history of Champ from Native American lore to the modern-day monster hunters; their egos, obsessions and behind-the-scenes squabbles. Also examined is whether the famous Mansi photo is a hoax, and weighs the evidence of the ultimate does Champ exist? "I really loved the book, and got some valuable lecture material out of it for my Vermont history course. Just fascinating." -- Dr. Paul Searls, Department of History, Lyndon State College "Get ready for... [a] thought-provoking ride as Robert Bartholomew guides you through 400 years of facts, fantasy and controversy surrounding Champ.... Like any solid reporter, Bartholomew asks the tough questions. He draws you into the vortex of egos of the Champ researchers. He chides his media colleagues for sloppy reporting.... It's all in here, and more. -- Ronald Kermani, former senior investigative journalist, Albany Times-Union " ... a comprehensive history of a cultural fixture in the northeast. Robert Bartholomew explores the background and development of a media favorite and a scientific controversy. Both believers and skeptics can profit from the solid research and fluid storytelling in The Untold Story of Champ ." -- Dr. Stephen R. Whalen, Department of History, Castleton State College "The book provides a thorough exploration of the Champ tales told through the ages. Dr. Bartholomew assiduously weaves his way through the stories, myths, and legends that surround Champ." -- Mike Winslow, author of Lake A Natural History and Staff Scientist "Bartholomew's study provides a meticulously researched overview of the historical context behind popular fascination with the Lake Champlain monster. The book effectively traces the vicissitudes of the creature's fame, rising and falling in accordance with external factors often unrelated to the ongoing string of perennial sightings. Bartholomew makes the subject come alive by carefully documenting the bitter rivalries between competing Champ researchers and by filling in the background stories for numerous Champ witnesses and enthusiasts. He shows that the creature is not simply a media sideshow, but a concept that has touched real people's lives very deeply." -- Dr. Peter Dendle, Associate Professor of English, Penn State University at Mont Alto and coeditor of The Ashgate Research Companion to Monsters and the Monstrous

"The lake surface was glass. My girlfriend and I were fishing from our anchored rowboat in about fifteen feet of water, facing the New York shore. 'Ron, what's that?' I turned. About thirty feet away I saw three dark humps ... protruding about two feet above the surface. The humps were perhaps two or three feet apart. They didn't move. We didn't either. We watched in disbelief for about ten seconds. The humps slowly sank into the water. There was no wake, no telltale sign of movement. Unexplained. Eerie. Unsettling." — from the Foreword by Ronald S. Kermani

Scotland may have Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, but we have Champ, the legendary serpent-like monster of Lake Champlain. The first recorded sighting of Champ, in 1609, has been attributed to the lake's namesake, French explorer and cartographer Samuel de Champlain. This is pure myth, but there have been hundreds of sightings since then. Robert E. Bartholomew embarks on his own search, both of the lake firsthand and through period sources and archives—many never before published. Although he finds the trail obscured by sloppy journalism, local leaders motivated by tourism income, and bickering monster hunters, he weighs the evidence to craft a rich, colorful history of Champ. From the nineteenth century, when Champ was a household name, to 1977, when he appeared in Sandra Mansi's controversial photograph, Bartholomew covers it all. Real or imaginary, Champ and his story will fascinate believers and skeptics alike."

From Out of the Blue : The Early Memoir of a Sea Monster The Serpent, Or at Least Its Tale, Resurfaces The Comeback Critter : The Fall and Rebirth of a Legend Awash with Controversy : Shonky Journalism, a Controversial Photo and a Monster Dispute Egos, Obsessions and the Quest for the Fame : The Monster Hunters In the Eye of the Beholder : The Search for Answers. Scotland may have Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, but we have Champ, the legendary serpent-like monster of Lake Champlain. Real or imaginary, Champ and his story will fascinate believers and skeptics alike. --from Cover.