The Encyclopaedia of Liars and Deceivers

Author/creator Bolt, Roelf Author
Other author Brown, Andy Translator
Format Electronic
Publication InfoLondon : Reaktion Books, Limited
Description256 p. ill 24.000 x 016.000 cm.
Supplemental ContentFull text available from Ebook Central - Academic Complete
Subjects

Summary Annotation George Washington may never have told a lie, but he may be the only personour history is littered with liars, deceivers, fraudsters, counterfeiters, and unfaithful lovers.The Encyclopaedia of Liars and Deceiversgathers 150 of them, each entry telling the intriguing tale of the liars motives and the people who fell for the lies.To collect these stories of deceit, Roelf Bolt travels from ancient times to the present day, documenting a huge assortment of legerdemain: infamous quacks, fraudulent scientists, crooks who committed pseudocides by faking their own deaths, and forgers of artworks, design objects, archaeological finds, and documents. From false royal claims, fake dragons eggs, and bogus perpetual motion machines to rare books, mermaid skeletons, and Stradivari violins, Bolt reveals that almost everything has been forged or faked by someone at some point in history. His short, accessible narratives in each entry offer biographies and general observations on specific categories of deceit, and Bolt captures an impressive number of famous figuresincluding Albert Einstein, Cicero, Ptolemy, Ernest Hemingway, François Mitterand, and Marco Poloas well as people who would have remained anonymous had their duplicity not come to light.Funny, shocking, and even awe-inspiring, the stories of deception in this catalog of shame makeThe Encyclopaedia of Liars and Deceiversthe perfect gift for all those who enjoy a good tall taleand those people who like to tell them.
Access restrictionAvailable only to authorized users.
Technical detailsMode of access: World Wide Web
Genre/formElectronic books.
ISBN9781780232713
ISBN1780232713 (Trade Cloth) Active Record
Standard identifier# 9781780232713
Stock number00314465

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Electronic Resources Access Content Online ✔ Available