The Making of Medieval Forgeries: False Documents in Fifteenth-Century England

by Alfred Hiatt

The Middle Ages have long been famous for spectacular forgeries. In this study Alfred Hiatt examines the function of forged documents in late medieval politics and society. In whose interests was it to forge documents? What kinds of narratives were enshrined in forgery? And why did forgery so often escape detection?

226 pages, Hardcover

First published January 12, 2003

Reviews

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was $100.

I know, I know. No book read for fun is worth $100. But I told myself it wasn't for fun. This was research for my story. Essential. Integral. A business expense. Thus I wore myself down until I caved and ordered it straight from the university press, knowing I'd probably wind up giving it one star and complaining about the price.

But now I can't do that, because this stupid book was actually fascinating. Not only did it show a riveting history of the "Golden Age of Forgeries," but it also expanded my idea of what a forgery was, is, and could be. Not to mention all the other historical content. All I needed was information for my one book, but by the end, I had enough for three.

So I have to give it five stars. I have to. But five stars is what I give to books that I recommend buying. And I can't tell anyone to buy a $100 book unless, like me, you can trick yourself into thinking you need it.

So don't buy this book. But buy this book. It's not worth it. It's so worth it.

I'm sorry.