Illywhacker is a dazzling comic narrative, from the lips of the 139-year-old herbert badgery, the 'illywhacker' or confidence trickster of the title. Overflowing with magic, jokes and inventions, peopled with aviators, c...Illywhacker is a dazzling comic narrative, from the lips of the 139-year-old herbert badgery, the 'illywhacker' or confidence trickster of the title. Overflowing with magic, jokes and inventions, peopled with aviators, car salesmen, chinamen and impresarios, Peter Carey's novel is a contemporary classic.