This study of literary forgery examines questions of illusion of authenticity and argues that the production of a literary forgery is an act that reveals the spurious nature of literature itself, and is a creative manifestation of cultural critique. 'As a powerful indictment of dubious practices in such activities as literary criticism, book-reviewing and the awarding of literary prizes, literary forgery merits serious attention from cultural analysts, and should be a key component of literary studies' (Publisher's blurb).