Jewish France — Volume II
Illustrated English translation of Volume II of La France juive. Essai d’histoire contemporaine, published by Édouard Drumont in 1886. This English edition complements the two French volumes available in the French library.
Published in 1886, this work is an antisemitic pamphlet. It is reproduced here as a historical source: its collective accusations, stereotypes and interpretations are those of its author. The documents added to this edition do not substantiate the accusations in the text.
This second volume brings together Books IV, V and VI, the author’s 257 notes, the original tables of contents, the index to both volumes and the author’s corrections.
Reproductions from institutional collections are accompanied by captions and source information. The editorial note explains the translation and presentation choices.
Sources and editorial method
Historical context
Historical context
EDITORIAL CONTEXT
An 1886 pamphlet
Drumont published this book in 1886, before founding La Libre Parole in 1892 and before the Dreyfus affair. The volume documents the development of antisemitic discourse combining political, social and religious polemics. The people and events mentioned must also be studied through sources independent of this pamphlet.
Crémieux and citizenship
The lawyer and politician Adolphe Crémieux served as Minister of Justice in 1848 and later in the Government of National Defence. The 1870 decree bearing his name granted French citizenship to the Jews of Algeria. His public career, legal work and involvement in associations are historical subjects distinct from the collective accusations advanced by Drumont.
Ritual murder allegations
From page 381 of the original edition, Drumont repeats ritual murder allegations. These are an anti-Jewish slander known as blood libel, not a practice of Judaism. Repeated since the Middle Ages, such allegations have been used to justify persecution and violence. Reproducing these accounts allows their circulation and methods to be studied.
Sources and references
Text and translation
Édouard Drumont, La France juive. Essai d’histoire contemporaine, Volume II, Paris, C. Marpon et E. Flammarion, 1886.
Illustrated English edition supplied for the library in 2026. The French Wikisource transcription was checked against the facsimiles. This second volume brings together Books IV, V and VI, the author’s 257 notes, the original tables of contents, the index to both volumes and the author’s corrections.
Documentary presentation
The editorial note distinguishes the pamphlet’s claims from the historical documents reproduced. Illustrations are identified by their captions and sources. Detailed references are included in the PDF.