Book Description

“A rich gift to history—and not just Jewish history—for its account not just of what Moses Montefiore did or did not do, but also of what he was.” —New Republic Humanitarian, philanthropist, and campaigner for Jewish emancipation on a grand scale, Sir Moses Montefiore (1784–1885) was the preeminent Jewish figure of the nineteenth century. His story, told here in full for the first time, is a remarkable and illuminating tale of diplomacy and adventure. Abigail Green’s sweeping biography follows Montefiore through the realms of court and ghetto, tsar and sultan, synagogue and stock exchange. Interweaving the public triumph of Montefiore’s foreign missions with the private tragedy of his childless marriage, this book brings the diversity of nineteenth-century Jewry brilliantly to life. Here we see the origins of Zionism and the rise of international Jewish consciousness, the faltering birth of international human rights, and the making of the modern Middle East. Mining materials from eleven countries in nine languages, Green’s masterly biography bridges the East-West divide in modern Jewish history, presenting the transformation of Jewish life in Europe, the Middle East, and the New World as part of a single global phenomenon. As it reestablishes Montefiore’s status as a major historical player, it also restores a significant chapter to the history of our modern world. “A masterpiece of scholarship and historical imagination.” —Niall Ferguson, New York Times bestselling author of The Square and the Tower “Entertaining.” —The Economist “A perceptive, solidly researched biography with expressive period illustrations attesting to Montefiore's global celebrity.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Deeply impressive. . . . One of the essential works on modern Jewish history.” —Tablet Magazine “Fair and illuminating.” —The Wall Street Journal