The Murder of William of Norwich: The Origins of the Blood Libel in Medieval Europe. By E. M. Rose (original) (raw)

E. M. Rose's examination of the William of Norwich case uncovers nuanced dynamics behind the first recorded blood libel in 1150. She argues that the accusation against Jews was a politically motivated maneuver by local leaders, specifically targeting a Jewish banker to shift blame from a local knight. By situating this incident within the broader socio-political context of medieval Norwich and subsequent reappearances of the accusation in Gloucester and northern France, Rose challenges prevailing narratives that attribute the blood libel solely to popular animosity or irrational piety, highlighting its use as a financial tool.