• Examines why 'Jew-hatred' appears to be so persistent throughout history
• Focuses on the growth of political antisemitism in the 19th century - and uses this as a frame to consider its historical roots, its social and cultural impact, and its chilling consequences
• The author discusses the role and attitudes of key figures such as Wagner, Nietzsche, and Marx, as well as key texts such as the forged 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion'
• Looks at antisemitism beyond the Holocaust: from the establishment of Israel, to Holocaust denial, and Islamic anti-Zionism

This Very Short Introduction examines and untangles the various strands of antisemitism seen throughout history, from medieval religious conflict to 'new' antisemitism in the 21st century. Steven Beller reveals how the phenomenon grew as a political and ideological movement in the 19th century, how it reached it its dark apogee in the worst genocide in modern history - the Holocaust - and how antisemitism still persists around the world today.