
audiobook
Transcriber's Note
THE HISTORY OF A LIE
A STUDY - BY - HERMAN BERNSTEIN
FOREWORD
CHAPTER ONE - THE MYSTERIOUS PROTOCOLS - The Lie of a Jewish World Conspiracy—Is There a Jewish Conspiracy?—Anonymous Accusations—The Mysterious “Protocols” of Sergei Nilus—How did “Nilus” Secure Them?—Contradictory Explanations—Who is “Nilus”?—How his Sponsors Disagree—What Russian Publicists Say.
CHAPTER TWO - THE STORY FROM WHICH THE PROTOCOLS WERE FABRICATED - Essence of “Protocols” Was German Fiction of “Sir John Retcliffe”—Who Was “Retcliffe”?—His Infamous Record—His Bloodcurdling Story—The Meeting in the Cemetery—An Avowed Myth—Meeting Every Hundred Years Attended by “Representatives of the Twelve Tribes of Israel”—The “Son of the Accursed” Also Attends and Provides Comic Interludes.
Transcription
Transliteration
Transcription
Transliteration
In this meticulously researched study, the author unravels the tangled origins of a notorious anti‑Jewish hoax that has haunted the twentieth century. By following a trail of obscure pamphlets, court records, and secret‑police reports, he shows how a fictional manuscript was first invented in Germany, then reshaped by Russian conspirators, and finally presented as genuine evidence of a global conspiracy. The narrative reads like a forensic audit, laying out the falsehoods with clear citations while keeping the scholarly tone accessible to listeners.
Beyond the document itself, the book places the forgery within the turbulent aftermath of the Great War, illustrating how desperate political factions used the lie to scapegoat Jewish communities across Europe. It examines the roles of extremist groups, the manipulation of public fear, and the ways the myth was repeatedly revived in new guises. Listeners gain a deeper understanding of how a single deceit can ripple through history, shaping prejudice long after its creators have vanished.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (178K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Jonathan Niehof, the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net, Nikola Smolenski, cinnabar, and Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net
Release date
2006-09-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1876–1935
A restless and wide-ranging writer, he moved from immigrant beginnings in the United States into journalism, fiction, translation, and public life. His work was shaped by a strong sense of justice, especially in defending Jewish communities and challenging antisemitic falsehoods.
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