The murder of William of Norwich : the origins of the blood libel in medieval Europe / E.M. Rose.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rose, E. M., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Antisemitism--Europe--History.

Antisemitism.

Ethnic relations.

History.

Jews--Persecutions.

Europe.

Blood accusation.

Jews--Persecutions--Europe--History.

Jews.

Christianity and antisemitism.

Europe--Ethnic relations--History.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xii, 394 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2015]

Summary:

"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 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 and suspensefully unraveling the facts of the case, Rose makes a powerful argument for why the Norwich Jews 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 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"--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

I The Monk, the Knight, the Bishop, and the Banker

Chapter 1 The Discovery of a Dead Body 13

Chapter 2 The Second Crusade 45

Chapter 3 The Trial 67

Chapter 4 The Making of a Saint 93

II The Earl, the Count, the Abbot, and the King

Chapter 5 Gloucester 133

Chapter 6 Blois 151

Chapter 7 Bury St. Edmunds 187

Chapter 8 Paris 209.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780190219628

0190219629

9780190219642

0190219645

9780190219659

0190219653

OCLC:

911591401