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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 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 eventually 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 - 12th-century ecclesiastical
politics, the position of Jews in England, the Second Crusade, and
the cult of saints - 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
antisemitic myths that continue to present.
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