No one likes to be deceived, but stories of deception can be funny, shocking, sometimes poetic, even awe-inspiring. We are almost always intrigued by such tales, whether they focus on the liar's own motives or on the often puzzling credulousness of those who fall for their lies. The Encyclopaedia of Liars and Deceivers documents a huge assortment of legerdemain, from infamous quacks to fraudulent scientists, and from crooks who faked their own deaths to forgers of artworks, archaeological finds and documents of all sorts. From false claims to the throne, dragon's eggs and perpetual motion machines to mermaid skeletons and Stradivarius violins - you name it, and it's been forged or faked by someone at some time in history. A liar is someone who 'knowingly' disseminates falsehoods, but deceit should not necessarily be condemned - think of identity papers forged in times of war and occupation, items counterfeited in jest and satires that expose pretentiousness. The encyclopaedia features many famous deceivers - including Cicero, Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway, Francois Mitterrand, Marco Polo and Ptolemy - as well as scores who would have remained unknown if their duplicity had not been uncovered. All take their rightful place in the catalogue of shame that is The Encyclopaedia of Liars and Deceivers, a book that will bring immense cheer to those who enjoy tall tales, as well as those who like to tell them.