A Universal History of Infamy

Jorge Luis Borges is one of the most renowned writers of the 20th century, greatly influencing the shape of modern literature. Borges' texts, whether fiction, poetry, or reflections, represent a kind of intellectual game - they are full of mysteries and fantastic images, whose origins should be sought in the literatures and cultures of the past. The collection "A Universal History of Infamy" is a compilation of stories about people whose moral decline, crimes, and shame paved the way to fame. By describing monstrous villainies that have become legend, Borges remains true to his penchant for literary mystifications. According to him, the book 'contains only appearance, a shell of images; perhaps that is why the book appeals to readers.'

The book also includes the collection "The History of Eternity," in which the author combines reflections on the cyclicity of time, reviews of non-existent books, an overview of various translations of the tales from "One Thousand and One Nights," a treatise on the poetry of skalds, and much more.