A Lie and a Libel: The History of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion

by Binjamin W. Segel

A strange and repugnant mystery of the twentieth century is the durability of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a clumsy forgery purporting to be evidence of the supposed Jewish plot to rule the world. Though it has been exposed as a forgery, some apprentice brownshirt is always rediscovering it, the latest in a line of gullibility that includes, most famously, Henry Ford. Recently it has been translated into Japanese and circulates once again with renewed virulence in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.In 1924 in Germany the Jewish author and journalist Binjamin Segel wrote a major historical exposé of the fraud and later edited his work into a shorter form, published as Welt-Krieg, Welt-Revolution, Welf-Verschwörung, Welt-Oberregierung (Berlin 1926). Translator Richard S. Levy, a specialist on the history of anti-semitism, provides an extensive introduction on the circumstances of Segel's work and the story of the Protocols up to the 1990s, including an explanation of its continuing psychological appeal and political function.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Judaica

Unknown Binding

First published December 1, 1995

Reviews

[Cathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about this book (and the "Protocols..." document) "thanks" to an anti-Zionist billboard on a highway in upstate New York State. Hubby and I have started the trek to bring our kid back and forth to and from college. I was shocked the first time I saw this billboard, which is near a town and area of many Hasidic Jews. So, researching this disgusting modern-day hatred led me to this book.

I'll admit many of the scholarly points and historical references went over my head (especially history about Russia in the First World War, which I know little about), but even I can see how the ridiculous claims of "The Protocols..." (written/plagiarized around 1907) have permeated the news, personal biases, and politics all the way up to modern times, even if the actual book has not been read by most modern people. "A Lie and a Libel..." was written in 1993 and several editions of "The Protocols..." had been published in that year! Astonishing that this b.s. is still being distributed.

Anyway, I am glad I read this but yet am depressed that I read this...

[Henning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Många fina formuleringar.

Angående innehållet mycket lite att invända, förutom att Segel själv då och då förfaller till konspirationsteoretisk logik och illa underbyggda spekulationer.

Strukturen är tyvärr oklar och hoppig.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent debunking that still stands tall. The introduction and notes by the translator serve as a great overview of the history and effect of an antisemitic forgery. Great little book!