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Book Cover for: The Luckiest Fool on Earth: The Twisted Yarn of America's Greatest Flagpole Sitter, Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, Phillip S. Roberts

The Luckiest Fool on Earth: The Twisted Yarn of America's Greatest Flagpole Sitter, Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly

Phillip S. Roberts

Do miracles exist? If asked, Alvin Kelly would tell you, "They absolutely do." The fact that the 19-year-old from Hell's Kitchen is returning to New York City with survivors of the Titanic is proof. He is fortunate to have met his manager, Joseph Emmerling, who lionizes him as America's most unlikely hero; the shifty newspaperman knows how to exploit a fad and get rich. Kelly's wife, Vivian is a career criminal who has her own motives. Her opinion is that miracles can be manufactured since she knows that desperate people want to believe her hokum. More evidence that wonders exist is embodied in Alvin's friend, Edward Leedskalnin, mystical sculptor of the Coral Castle. Convinced he knows the secret to a supernatural phenomenon-levitation, Alvin would give anything to master that process as the former sailor called Shipwreck Kelly insanely quests to become the Flagpole Sitting Champion of the World.

Set against the backdrop of Roaring Twenties New York City, The Luckiest Fool on Earth tells the captivating story of Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, an unassuming sailor thrust into fame as the nation's most celebrated flagpole sitter. This transformation is orchestrated by a loquacious newspaper man and his cunning grifter wife, who team up to exploit Alvin's misfortunes for their own gain. As Alvin ascends-both literally and figuratively- he becomes a daring spectacle in an era of glitz and ambition. Yet beneath him lies a sobering journey while he gains understanding about the devastating cost of his need for fame.

A rollercoaster of ambition, deception, and redemption, The Luckiest Fool on Earth explores the fragile intersection of human connection and the intoxicating allure of fame. True to its era and hero's journey, this is not a tale of happy endings, but a poignant reflection on the choices that define us.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Zazel Publishing
  • Publish Date: Oct 1st, 2025
  • Pages: 302
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 9.00in - 6.00in - 0.68in - 0.89lb
  • EAN: 9798998504211
  • Categories: Action & AdventureHistorical - General

About the Author

Roberts, Phillip S.: - Phillip S. Roberts currently lives in Arizona with his wife and dog. He holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Radio and Television Communication Arts from San Francisco State University. A long-time radio personality in Honolulu, his love of the tropics drove him to create an homage to Waikiki and the many Tiki that inhabit island of Oahu. He enjoys history, and quirky truths from the dark side of the tracks. "The Luckiest Fool on Earth: The Twisted Yarn of America's Greatest Flagpole Sitter, Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly," is his debut novel.

Praise for this book

A "Lively, historically rich romp through America's daredevil era." - Booklife Review, A division of Publisher's Weekly

"A bittersweet indie gem about love, loss, and the absurd beauty of starting over." - tertuliia.com