Human folly is his main theme in this volume in which he wan-ders through countries and cen-turies to trace all those, whether they be individuals, guilds or powerful organizations, who aimed at deluding people haunt-ed by worry, longing or greed. Ráth-Végh relates all this with wide historical knowledge and the ease and humour of a popular story-teller, not without expressing his own resolute stand against all kinds of deception and his views on the need for en-lightenment and progress