Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia Of Prejudice And Persecution

This encyclopedia provides a clear overview and examination of anti-Semitism, with 650 double-column entries by over 200 contributors from 21 countries. The introduction states "The term anti-Semitism, used to describe an ideology and a politics, is only a little more than a century old." The focus of this work is on modern times, particularly the 19th and 20th centuries, but there are also many entries on anti-Jewish expression and actions through the ages. The articles on pivotal figures (e.g., Saint Augustine, Luther) who have had an impact for good or ill on modern thought are also examined. Most entries are at least a full page (such as "Restrictive Public Accommodations, United States"), though some are even longer (such as the article "Churches Under Nazism"). Although written by top scholars in the field--Jewish and non-Jewish--the articles are aimed at the informed lay reader or college student. Each article concludes with See also references and a brief bibliography. The indexes are easy to navigate. This title is also available in eBook format [eBook ISBN 1-85109-444-X. $200]. Bottom Line The encyclopedia provides an excellent synthesis of current investigations into the origins and course of antisemitism. The entries are for the most part clearly written and rarely didactic in tone. Recommended for reference collections in medium and large public libraries.--Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL

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