Trials of the Diaspora

Trials of the Diaspora is a ground-breaking book that offers the first ever comprehensive history of anti-Semitism in England. Anthony Julius identifies four distinct versions of English anti-Semitism, which he then proceeds to investigate in detail. The first is the anti-Semitism of medieval England, a radical prejudice of defamation, expropriation, and murder, which culminated in 1290, the year of Edward I's expulsion of the Jews from England, after which there were no Jews left to torment. The second major strand is literary anti-Semitism: an anti-Semitic account of Jews continuously present in the discourse of English literature, from the anonymous medieval ballad "Sir Hugh, or the Jew's Daughter" through Shakespeare to T. S. Eliot and beyond. Thirdly, Julius addresses modern anti-Semitism, a quotidian anti-Semitism of insult and partial exclusion, pervasive but contained, experienced by Jews from their "readmission" to England in the mid-17th century through to the late 20th century. The final chapters then deal with contemporary anti-Semitism, a new configuration of anti-Zionisms, emerging in the late 1960s and the 1970s, which treats Zionism and the State of Israel as illegitimate Jewish enterprises. It is this final perspective which, in Julius's opinion, now constitutes the greatest threat to Anglo-Jewish security and morale. This book, the first history of its kind, is sure to provoke much comment and debate, and comes as a timely reminder that English culture has been in no way immune to anti-Semitism - and in certain ways is still not to this day.

ISBN 0199297053   Pages 880 ISBN13 9780199297054 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 1422 Publisher Oxford University Press   Published in Oxford Imprint Oxford University Press   Height (mm) 241 Format Hardback   Width (mm) 163 Publication date 25 Feb 2010   Spine width (mm) 49 DEWEY 305.8924042   Academic level General DEWEY edition DC22

Pt. I		Contexts
1		Enmities		3
2		Defamations		69
Pt. II		Versions
3		Medieval English Anti-Semitism		105
4		English Literary Anti-Semitism		148
5		Modern English Anti-Semitism		242
6		The Mentality of Modern English Anti-Semitism		348
7		Contemporary Secular Anti-Zionisms		441
8		Contemporary Confessional Anti-Zionisms, and a Conclusion		532
		Notes		589
		Extract acknowledgements		784
		Index		785

His book 'Trials of the Diaspora' is magisterial...No Judaica library should be without it. Jeremy Rosen, Jewish Telegraph A torrent of primary-source material. Diarmaid MacCulloch, London Review of Books Julius...is nothing if not a superb rhetorician. Diarmaid MacCulloch, London Review of Books Anthony Julius' erudite and scholarly work will prove indispensable in the struggle against this form of racial prejudice. David Harounoff, Tribune Magazine A strong, sombre book on an appalling subject. Harold Bloom, New York Review of Books Julius is a truth-teller...I am grateful for his calm balance...[and his] extraordinary moral strength. Harold Bloom, New York Review of Books Luminous and comprehensive history. Scholars for Peace in the Middle East A scholarly and judicious history of Britannia's version of that most lethal form of nonsense called antisemitism. No thoughtful person who wants to have an opinion about anything Jewish...can avoid reading this book. David Cesa rni, BBC History Magazine Excellent book. Jonathan Wright, The Tablet An elegantly written, well-researched survey of England's anti-sematic urges...masterful...poignant, insightful stuff. Jonathan Wright, The Tablet A magisterial work about the history of anti-Semitism in Britain that will surely have a major impact and be widely discussed. William Rubinstein, Standpoint 'Trials of the Diaspora' reveals him to be an historian of great ability who has produced a magisterial work. William Rubenstein, Standpoint Wonderful... immensely learned... observant and shrewd. Joanathan Sumpton, Spectator An excellent autobiographical essay in which Julius recalls the distasteful reaction to his appointment as lawyer to Diana. Jonathan Beckman, New Statesman Julius writes with unrivalled authority. James Shapiro, Financial Times This is an essential history and so it's fortunate it has been written by a man with the extraordinary fluency, staggering erudition, scholarly integrity, intellectual acumen, and moral discernment of Anthony Julius. Philip Roth Part history of an irrational hatred, part forensic analysis of a sophistical lie, part literary criticism - for, as Anthony Julius shows, anti-Semitism is a species of fantastical literature, all figure of speech, misquotation and fancy - this exhilarating work nails a defamation which to humanity's discredit, persists to this hour. Indispensible. Howard Jacobson Anthony Julius has produced a brilliant and readable account of a shameful stain on the national reputation. The best dissection I've seen of Britain's oldest and least acknowledged racial prejudice. Nick Cohen

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