I guess it makes sense that if you spend enough time studying someone's real correspondence and signature, you could fake them. Heard of forged paintings and fake money? How about forged correspondence from prominent literary figures in history? This book tells the story of how one author fell on hard times and decided to try her hand at selling valuable correspondence from prominent authors. It turned out to be a lucrative business for her. 

Finding the right note paper, typewriters and getting the hang of people's handwriting are the key to success for this crime. Developing a relationship with dealers also helps the process along. However, can Israel fool close associates of the people whose work is being forged? The author combed libraries for actual letters so that she could become familiar with the authors' personalities and lives whom she imitated.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? Memoirs of a Literary Forger by Lee Israel, 2008

I love the cover, on which she crossed out the authors' names whose letters she forgers. Israel did research on the authors' letters at the Library for the Performing Arts and in the Berg Collection of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

• Professional Autograph Dealers Association
• Books about forgeries