A literary hoax is a deliberate deception in which a work of literature is falsely attributed to a non-existent or misrepresented author. These hoaxes often aim to critique literary norms, challenge authenticity, or simply entertain. Famous examples include the James Frey memoir scandal and the Sokal Affair, where a physicist submitted a fake paper to a cultural studies journal. Such hoaxes can lead to significant discussions about the nature of authorship and the value of literary works. They raise questions about how society perceives truth in literature and the impact of context on a text's reception and credibility.