Bücher der Reihe Palgrave Studies in Cultural and Intellectual History

In most contemporary historical writing the picture of modern life in Habsburg Central Europe is a gloomy story of the failure of rationalism and the rise of protofascist movements. This book tells a different story, focusing on the Czech writers and artists distinguished by their optimistic view of the world in the years before WWI.

This book challenges a common historical narrative, which portrays medieval Jews as moneylenders who filled an essential economic role in Europe. This book also documents why it is a myth for medieval Europe, and illuminates how changes in Jewish history change our understanding of European history.