A Universal History of Infamy

Interesting Facts

• This collection brings to life legends and tales of the most enigmatic and contradictory figures in world history—from ruthless pirates to mysterious adventurers whose deeds teeter on the edge of myth and reality.
• Each story in the book is like a precious gem, cut by the author’s ironic style, where historical accuracy intertwines with refined literary play.
• The narrative features characters whose names have long become synonymous with cunning and audacity, yet Borges endows them with the traits of tragic heroes, revealing the complexity of human nature.
• The author masterfully uses elements of paradox and allusion, turning the chronicle of crime and deception into a philosophical reflection on the nature of evil and the illusory nature of fame.
• The book features not only well-known historical figures but also little-known characters whose fates surprise with their uniqueness and drama, and the stories themselves sometimes resemble parables or dreams.
• The collection is imbued with an atmosphere of eternal search for truth, where each story is not only a chronicle of downfall but also an attempt to understand what drives a person on the path to infamy.