The Accusation - Blood Libel in an American Town

On 22 September 1928, four-year-old Barbara Griffith strayed into the woods surrounding Massena in New York. Hundreds of people looked for the child but could not find her; then someone suggested that Barbara had been kidnapped and killed by Jews. The mayor and local police believed the rumour and the allegation of ritual murder, known to Jews as "blood libel", took hold. Rational people in government and Jewish leaders had to intervene to restore calm once Barbara was safely found.

At first glance it seems bizarre that so many embraced the accusation but many of Massena's inhabitants had emigrated recently from Central and Eastern Europe where "blood libel" was common. The Accusation is a shocking and perceptive cross-cultural exploration of American and European responses to anti-Semitism.

About the author

Edward Berenson is a professor of history at New York University. He is the author of Europe in the Modern World and The Statue of Liberty: A Transatlantic Story. He lives in Tarrytown, New York, with his wife, Catherine Johnson.

Summary

A fascinating investigation of America’s only alleged case of blood libel and what it reveals about anti-Semitism in the United States and Europe.

Product details

• Authors: Edward Berenson, Edward (New York University) Berenson
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 14.10.2019
• EAN: 9780393249422
• ISBN: 978-0-393-24942-2
• Dimensions: 147 mm x 216 mm x 25 mm
• Weight: 402 g
• Illustrations: 29 illustrations
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; USA, New York, 20th Century, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, HISTORY / United States / 20th Century, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Jewish Studies, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Jewish Studies, Local History, United States of America, USA, Criminal investigation & detection, History of the Americas, Ethnic minorities & multicultural studies, Criminal investigation and detection, Relating to Jewish people and groups, Southeastern & South Atlantic States, Social groups: religious groups and communities, Social discrimination and social justice