‘Gods of Commerce and Thieves’: Perceptions of Jews, Crime and Business in London

Some of the most nefarious anti-Semitic stereotypes are deeply embedded in English culture with Shakespeare's Shylock and Dickens' Fagin two of the best known. There exists, however, a wide spectrum of "Jewish types" associated with business in London, from the villainous to the nearly-saintly, which often resurface in public discourse. This lecture shall focus on the relationships between perception and 'reality' the interplay between stereotypes and expectations good, bad, and indifferent, as pertain to Jews 'doing business' in London, and Anglo-Jewry generally. Among the topics to be considered shall be: the legacy of the Norwich blood libel; the expulsion; crypto-Jews; pick-pockets and brokers; the South Sea Bubble; charges of 'industrial' conspiracy; boxers and the underworld; Disraeli and the Rothschilds; labour unrest; 'White Slavery'; 'Jewish gangs'; the Guinness-Distillers' affair; and John LeCarré's (masked) Jewish crooks.