Forgery is a crime, but many people feel a sneaking admiration for the fraudsters who make fake masterpieces. In The Forger’s Art, Jonathan Webb recounts the exploits of some of the most notorious fakers, including the Dutch painter of “Vermeers,” Han van Meegeren, and the English manufacturer of “Rembrandts,” Tom Keating, and a dozen others. The bogus art biz is by no means all in the past. Among recent scams described by Webb are a family-run fakes factory in Bolton, England, and an international dealership in phony “old masters” based on a bus driver’s drawing skills. This book may make readers question the legitimacy of all art, from celebrated masterpieces in major museums to unexceptional lithographs in a local gallery. The Forger’s Art is both a revelation and a disturbing delight.

JONATHAN WEBB is a journalist, writer, and editor. He is the author of an award-winning novel, Pluck, two children’s books, What’s a Zoo Do? and Journey to Mars, and of the adult true-crime book, Stolen: To Catch an Art Thief.