Brennan relates the activities of Crouch, a well-educated and plausible imposter, who impersonated Church dignitaries and clergymen in Britain, Europe, the Middle East, and America. He lived in Australia from 1861 to 1865, during which time he continued his fraudulent activities. After being unmasked in Ireland he returned to Australia in 1888 where he continued his impersonation until convicted of sexual assault on a child in 1891. He died in Darlinghurst Gaol shortly after his conviction.