A Rumor about the Jews

In its portrayal of Judaism as a worldwide conspiracy dedicated to the destruction of Christian civilization, the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion remains one of the most infamous documents ever written. Despite being proven a crude forgery, the pamphlet managed to pervade twentieth-century thinking, often being twisted to suit its handlers' purposes, and to justify the most extreme persecution of the Jews. In A Rumor About the Jews, Stephen Eric Bronner provides a history of this notorious fabrication-one which has renewed salience in a "post truth" society dominated by "fake news"-and explores its influence on right-wing movements throughout the twentieth century and the ongoing appeal of bigotry. This new edition of Bronner's 2000 classic (described by Kirkus as "the best short book on anti-Semitism") expands the arguments of the first edition, bringing the work up to date in a new political context.

1. Introduction. - 2. Antisemitism for Popular Consumption: Selections from the
Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
. - 3. The Text in Context: The
Protocols
and the Varieties of Antisemitism. - 4. The Tale of a Forgery: Inventing the
Protocols
. - 5. Spreading the News: The
Protocols
Triumphant. - 6. Intermezzo: American Populism and the Jews. - 7. The Legacy of a Lie: Contemporary Antisemitism and Its Future.