The Shortest History of Antisemitism

A swift history of one of the most enduring and changeable forms of hatred

From ancient times to the present, antisemitism has proved to be one of the most enduring and adaptable forms of hatred. Across centuries of world-changing ideas and upheavals - from the rise of Christianity and Islam to the Enlightenment, nationalism, globalism and great leaps of technology - the Jewish people have served as a dark mirror for society's fears, anxieties and hatreds. Why does this hostility persist?

In this crucial and unflinching history, acclaimed British historian Sir Simon Schama examines the forces that have enabled this old hatred to mutate and thrive, even within liberal democracies. With his characteristic clarity, erudition and curiosity, Schama looks at the antisemitic myths and imagery that recur throughout Jewish history, culminating in the latest outbreaks since the October 7 attacks and the war in Gaza.