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The Murder of William of Norwich - The Origins of the Blood Libel in Medieval Europe (Hardcover) Loot Price: R623
Discovery Miles 6 230
The Murder of William of Norwich - The Origins of the Blood Libel in Medieval Europe (Hardcover): E. M. Rose

The Murder of William of Norwich - The Origins of the Blood Libel in Medieval Europe (Hardcover)

E. M. Rose

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Loot Price R623 Discovery Miles 6 230 | Repayment Terms: R58 pm x 12*

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In 1144, the mutilated body of William of Norwich, a young apprentice leatherworker, was found abandoned outside the city's walls. The boy bore disturbing signs of torture, and a story soon spread that it was a ritual murder, performed by Jews in imitation of the Crucifixion as a mockery of Christianity. The outline of William's tale swiftly gained currency far beyond Norwich, and the idea that Jews engaged in ritual murder became firmly rooted in the European imagination. E.M Rose's engaging book delves into the story of William's murder and the notorious trial that followed to uncover the origin of the ritual murder accusation-known as the "blood libel"-in western Europe in the Middle Ages. Focusing on the specific historical context-the 12th-century reform of the Church, the position of Jews in England, and the Second Crusade-and suspensefully unraveling the facts of the case, Rose makes a powerful argument for why the Norwich Jews (and particularly one Jewish banker) were accused of killing the youth, and how the malevolent blood libel accusation managed to take hold. She also considers four "copycat" cases, in which Jews were similarly blamed for the death of young Christians, and traces the adaptations of the story over time. In the centuries after its appearance, the ritual murder accusation provoked instances of torture, death and expulsion of thousands of Jews and the extermination of hundreds of communities. Although no charge of ritual murder has withstood historical scrutiny, the concept of the blood libel is so emotionally charged and deeply rooted in cultural memory that it endures even today. Rose's groundbreaking work, driven by fascinating characters, a gripping narrative, and impressive scholarship, provides clear answers as to why the blood libel emerged when it did and how it was able to gain such widespread acceptance, laying the foundations for enduring anti-Semitic myths that continue to the present.

General

Imprint: Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin: United States
Release date: August 2015
Authors: E. M. Rose
Dimensions: 214 x 148 x 28mm (L x W x T)
Format: Hardcover - Cloth over boards
Pages: 416
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-021962-8
Categories: Books > Humanities > History > World history > 500 to 1500
Books > Humanities > History > British & Irish history > General
Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Ethnic studies > Jewish studies
Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Other warfare & defence issues > War crimes > Genocide
Books > History > British & Irish history > General
Books > History > World history > 500 to 1500
LSN: 0-19-021962-9
Barcode: 9780190219628

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