Giunti Editore

: He begins with early scams, such as the pyramid scheme of Baldomera Larra and the blackmail involving the love letters of Alfonso XII .

The author traces a timeline of corruption and avarice through several notable events:

Juan Eslava Galán is a Doctor of Letters known for his "history for skeptics" series. Critics and readers often praise his ability to make complex history accessible and entertaining. While some readers find it lighter than his most seminal works, it is widely regarded as a "compulsive read" that provides an uncomfortable but necessary look at the Spanish national character.