First Ghetto: Venice and the Origins of Modern Antisemitism
First Ghetto: Venice and the Origins of Modern Antisemitism
First Ghetto: Venice and the Origins of Modern Antisemitism
Description
Description
From an acclaimed historian, the definitive story of the Venetian Ghetto and the emergence of modern antisemitism. "More than a history of a city, the book is a chronicle of a condition, an elegy for Jewish life lived in the paradox of family flourishing and civic exclusion .... A richly researched history of Italian Jewry and its will to live on." ―Kirkus Reviews In the early sixteenth century, amidst the ruins of war and mounting religious hatred, the world's first Jewish "ghetto" was established in Venice. Constrained in cramped, often unsanitary conditions, the Jews who were forced to live there were extorted, abused, and subjected to countless humiliating restrictions. In the centuries that followed, the Venetian Ghetto would become the prototype for ghettos throughout Europe--and pave the way for modern antisemitism. But this is also a tale of hope. Against the odds, the Ghetto's residents thrived, creating a vibrant literary, musical, and religious community. They became essential to the survival of Venice itself--and as more Jewish refugees arrived, the Ghetto became a microcosm of the Jewish world. Tracing its story from its medieval origins to the present day, historian Alexander Lee explores the Ghetto through the eyes of its Jewish inhabitants, from the domestic troubles of a seventeenth-century rabbi to the agonizing wait of a family bound for Auschwitz. Authoritative, detailed, and timely, this definitive history shows what happens when war and economics collide with hatred--and also offers a powerful warning for the future.
About the Author
About the Author
Alexander Lee is a prize-winning historian at the University of Warwick. He is the author of five acclaimed books, including Machiavelli: His Life and Times (a Financial Times Book of the Year). He writes a column for History Today and appears frequently on television, radio, and podcasts. Lee is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He lives in France.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Fascinating...an engrossing tale of cruel prejudice and resilience...Bravo."--Times (UK)
"In this fascinating history...Lee conjures up the Adriatic seaport in all its strange glory...This admirable book offers a poignant testimony to a people who have approached annihilation many times."--Spectator (UK)
"A stunning account of a dark history...magnificent."--Irish Times
"An important and timely book."--Daily Telegraph (UK)
"Remarkable...a rollercoaster history."--Jewish Chronicle
"A splendid account, whose vitality, resourcefulness, and variety of detail will make it hard to rival."--Literary Review (UK)
"Rich, absorbing, and so beautifully written."--Nadeem Aslam, Booker-longlisted author of The Golden Legend
"More than a history of a city, the book is a chronicle of a condition, an elegy for Jewish life lived in the paradox of family flourishing and civic exclusion....A richly researched history of Italian Jewry and its will to live on."--Kirkus Reviews
"Brilliantly researched and deeply moving, this history of the Jews of Venice makes a significant and much needed contribution to the city's story."--Roger Crowley, author of 1453
"The First Ghetto is the most accessible history of this renowned Venetian quarter. Alexander Lee combines expertise in Venetian history with sensibility to the Jewish past and a gift for storytelling. Highly recommended."--Miri Rubin, author of The Middle Ages
"Embattled and persistent, the Jewish community of Venice played a fascinatingly rich role in the city's cultural and economic life. In Alexander Lee, they have found their true and elegant historian."--Judith Mackrell, author of The Unfinished Palazzo
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Basic Books
Pub date:
2026-05-19
Length:
432 pages
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