In the Middle Ages, during the reign of King Richard of England, a terrible anti-Semitic massacre took place in York in 1190. The city's entire Jewish community was trapped by an angry mob within the tower of York Castle. Members of the community chose to commit suicide rather than be murdered or forcibly baptized by the attackers.

Eugen Rispart's great epic, crammed full of incidents, accurate in historical detail, delineating with a master hand the famous characters of the period, graphic in description, blending tragedy, comedy, and romance takes its place amidst the other masterpieces of Eugen Rispart. Through the great spectacle move the figures of Prince Richard, Eleanor the stern Queen mother, The Earl of Salisbury, Benedict, the Jew of York, and his partner Joscen. We are taken into the intimacy of the Jewish home and into the political arena of the struggle between Prince Richard and Prince John for the throne. Major William Schonfield created this translation in 1933 and it had disappeared until a recent discovery by the editor. It has now been thoroughly revised and additional information added to be made available once again. The reader cannot but become involved in this gripping novel.