The Encyclopaedia of Liars and Deceivers

2015 | Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences

No one likes to be taken in, but stories of deception concerning others are compelling. It can be startling to learn of the credulousness of those who fall for schemes or untruths spun out by liars, cheats, fraudsters, fakers, even unfaithful lovers ...But deceit should not always be condemned: think of items counterfeited in jest, or satires that expose pretentiousness, or the necessity for forged identity papers in occupied Europe under the Nazis, or ingenious tricks by the Allies to wrongfoot German forces. To collect these stories of deceit Roelf Bolt has ranged widely, from ancient times to the present day, documenting a huge assortment of legerdemain: infamous quacks, fraudulent scientists, crooks who committed 'pseudocide' by faking their own deaths, forgers of paintings and drawings, decorative arts, archaeological finds and documents of every sort. From counterfeit medicines and banknotes to bogus perpetual wonder-working machines and sports memorabilia, Bolt reveals that almost everything has been forged or faked by someone at some point in history.

He offers biographies and general observations on specific categories of deceit, and the book includes a number of well-known figures - Einstein, Ernest Hemingway and President Francois Mitterand among them - as well as the many individuals who would have remained anonymous had their duplicity not come to light. All take their rightful place in the bizarre catalogue of comedy, crime and occasional genius that is The Encyclopaedia of Liars and Deceivers, the perfect gift for all those who enjoy a good story - and those people who like to tell them.

Roelf Bolt (Author)