Theodor Herzl

by Desmond Stewart

Biography, that traces Herzl’s tortuous route in Vienna, Paris and the major capitals of turn-of-the-century Europe. We see Herzl evolve from a dueling student, an aspiring playwright and a sophisticated journalist to the man who decides. in the summer of 1895, to set himself at the head of a movement for the Jews. Although indifferent to religion for most of his life, his European experience made him bitterly aware of bow Jews were suffering from anti-Semitism. A blend of concern for what he now saw as his people and exalted ambition inspired him to devote himself to the Zionist movement—which, forty-four years after his death, led to the proclamation, under his portrait, of a Jewish state in Palestine. Through Herzl’s own journals and letters, Desmond SteWart' reveals for the first time intimate details of his private life which played decisive roles in his constant ill health; lack of the artistic success he sought; his wretched marriage to a wealthy woman whose values he despised. The events of Herzl’s life have been chronicled before. But for the first time Mr. Stewart tells the intensely personal story of this political figure and reveals him in the round as a believable and suffering human being.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1974

About the author

1924-1981.

Desmond Stirling Stewart was a British writer and journalist who spoke Arabic fluently and worked for many years in Baghdad, Beirut, and Cairo. He wrote a number of books about Egyptian and Arabic culture and history as well as several novels.

His main novels are 'The Leopard in the Grass' (1953), 'The Unsuitable Englishman' (1955), trilogy 'The Sequence of Roles', 'The Round Mosaic'(1965), 'The Pyramid Inch' (1966), 'The Mamelukes' (1968).