A Life, a Death, a Legacy: Writing the History of Ritual Murder
Lecture by Miri Rubin
Given at Birkbeck, University of London on November 14, 2014
The Life and Passion of William of Norwich, written in the twelfth century by Thomas of Monmouth a Benedictine monk, contains the earliest accusation that Jews killed a Christian child for hate of Christians and their beliefs. Such accusations were repeated over the centuries, in Europe and beyond. Believed by some and dismissed by others, they sometimes led to violence.
Miri Rubin’s lecture demonstrates the involvement of scholars and monks, bureaucrats and opportunists in attempts to make the accusation work. The story of child murder – first told in Norwich around 1150 – is as revealing about Christians as it is about Jews, both in the Middle Ages and since.
A Life, a Death, a Legacy: Writing the History of Ritual Murder
Lecture by Miri Rubin
Given at Birkbeck, University of London on November 14, 2014
The Life and Passion of William of Norwich, written in the twelfth century by Thomas of Monmouth a Benedictine monk, contains the earliest accusation that Jews killed a Christian child for hate of Christians and their beliefs. Such accusations were repeated over the centuries, in Europe and beyond. Believed by some and dismissed by others, they sometimes led to violence.
Miri Rubin’s lecture demonstrates the involvement of scholars and monks, bureaucrats and opportunists in attempts to make the accusation work. The story of child murder – first told in Norwich around 1150 – is as revealing about Christians as it is about Jews, both in the Middle Ages and since.
Miri Rubin is Professor of Medieval and Early Modern History at Queen Mary, University of London. She translated Thomas Monmouth’s The Life and Passion of William of Norwich with Penguin.
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