FAKE! — Clifford Irving

Elmyr de Hory: an elegant Jewish aristocrat whom World War II had stripped of everything but his genius at imitating Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, Renoir, and other great painters of the 20th century. Fernand Legros: a ruthless Egyptian who decreed that museums, art galleries and millionaire collectors should finance his love of luxury and pretty boys. And Real Lessard: an Adonis-like Canadian youth who began as Fernand's protegé and in the end out-dueled the master in cunning.

Set in Paris, London, New York, Texas, and the decadent Mediterranean island of Ibiza, this is the incredible tale of three rogues who bilked oil tycoons and movie stars, and turned the international art world upside down.

It was the basis for filmmaker Orson Welles' last major movie, “F For Fake,” which has become a cult classic.

Pablo Picasso called Fake! “a delightfully vicious book, a joy to read and contemplate.”

REVIEWS:

“The wild, true story of three men who raped the art world ... one of the most sophisticated suspense sagas of our time ... fantastic.” -- Chicago Tribune

“A story to remember and revel in.” -- St. Louis Globe-Democrat

Please Note: This 2012 edition includes a freshly updated 30 page Author's Postscript.