Bell drew on a wide range of sources, including Edward Falkener, Stewart Culin, Willard Fiske, HJR Murray, John Scarne, and many others; as well as his own research and collection.
The name of the main character appears to be a reference to John Scarne.
John F. Kennedy | Pope John Paul II | Elton John | John | John Lennon | John Wayne | John McCain | John Kerry | John Cage | Olivia Newton-John | John Williams | John Peel | John Adams | John Steinbeck | John Travolta | John Milton | John Zorn | John Marshall | John Howard | John Singer Sargent | John Ruskin | John Updike | John Maynard Keynes | John Coltrane | John Cleese | St. John's | John Waters | John Lee Hooker | John Huston | John Ford |