The Jew Accused: Three Anti-Semitic Affairs (Dreyfus, Beilis, Frank) 1894–1915

I had become curious why the Leo Frank case shared a very focused timeline of history with the Dreyfus and Beilis affairs when I discovered this book. While most brief historical reviews, especially in light of the holocaust, naturally assumed anti-Semitism was the overwhelmingly driving force behind all three affairs, Lindemann pursues the history of these events more objectively and skeptically. Lindemann traces the background of the rising Jew of the 20th century and their striking success in a changing modernized world; a world that left many rural, agrarian, and craftsmen behind. He distingusihes the 'objective' anti-semitism based on observable behaviors and situations from 'fantastic' anti-semtism based on the mythological European tales, such as blood libel. He does not deny that these forms of anti-semitism existed, or that their combination would become so brutally destructive. Lindemann did, however, remain objective in analyazing how much of a role anti-semtism played in the three affairs. Dreyfus was ultimately exonerated and even had published anti semites such as Emile Zola defend him. To many this was an example of justice served and the discrediting of the anti-semitic anti-Dreyfusards. Beilis was largely defended by non Jewish neighbors who simply liked the man. In spite of the far more anti Semitic deliberate actions of the Tsarist government, Beilis was acquited in the country that was at the time far more primitive and overtly anti Semitic than the other two examined. Ironically in the United States, the most open to Jews of the three countries examined, justice was served most poorly. The prosecutor, Dorsey, had good relations with Jews and was even partners with them. Watson, the populist, had little background in anti Semtism when he stirred up public anger against Frank. If Leo Frank had been a wealthy, northern Italian or Irish, Lindemann believes his fate would have been the same or worse. Frank was the victim of some of the same social and cultural conflicts as Dreyfus. The explosion of the press from the emotional community trauma of a murdered 13 year old girl, the evidence available, the ensuing pressure of law enforcement, and Frank's poor legal representation probabaly played a far more influential roll than his Jewish identity. This does not ignore the Jewish Question in these cases. Even today neo Nazi web sites replay the Frank case as proof of Jewish inferiority and depravity. Lindemann's perspective does bring a different approach to the Jewish aspect of these cases. ".. history, especially that transparently serving political agendas, can become hopelessly tangled in a web of miscperception."

In his other book, "Esau's Tears", Lindemann says: "History should not be written in the same way that cases are presented to a jury". He follows this exactly in "The Jew Accused". The book is very clearly written, very balanced, providing a comprehensive background for each of these three famous (and not so famous, as is the case of Frank) trials. Albert Lindemann's style is superb, his thinking is clear, he provides lots of relevant (and frequently surprising) details. This book is a pleasure to read, even though the subject matter is very disturbing and controvercial.