Throughout history, forgers have attempted to fabricate documents to manipulate the historical record. The book explores the most egregious cases—their intent, effectiveness, exposure and significance—from the Donation of Constantine to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion to the Hitler Diaries.

Ironically, forgeries have helped advance the discipline of history. Case studies trace how scholars worked to reveal the truth behind bogus manuscripts while developing new tools and standards for accuracy and authenticity. In the age of "fake news" and digital editing software, the spectacular history of fraud in print has never been more relevant.