The History of a Lie: "The Protocols of the Wise Men of Zion"

audiobook

The History of a Lie: "The Protocols of the Wise Men of Zion"

by Herman Bernstein

EN·~3 hours·38 chapters

Chapters

38 total
1

Transcriber's Note

0:22
2

THE HISTORY OF A LIE

0:10
3

A STUDY - BY - HERMAN BERNSTEIN

0:11
4

FOREWORD

4:45
5

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.

16:04
6

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.

49:55
7

Transcription

0:12
8

Transliteration

0:38
9

Transcription

0:39
10

Transliteration

0:40

Description

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.

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Details

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.

About the author

Herman Bernstein

Herman Bernstein

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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