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The First Ghetto: Venice and the Origins of Modern Antisemitism
From an acclaimed historian, the definitive story of the Venetian Ghetto and the emergence of modern antisemitism.
In the early sixteenth century, amidst the ruins of war and mounting religious hatred, the world’s first Jewish “ghetto” was established in Venice. Constrained in cramped, often unsanitary conditions, the Jews who were forced to live there were extorted, abused, and subjected to countless humiliating restrictions. In the centuries that followed, the Venetian Ghetto would become the prototype for ghettos throughout Europe—and pave the way for modern antisemitism.
But this is also a tale of hope. Against the odds, the Ghetto’s residents thrived, creating a vibrant literary, musical, and religious community. They became essential to the survival of Venice itself—and as more Jewish refugees arrived, the Ghetto became a microcosm of the Jewish world.
Tracing its story from its medieval origins to the present day, historian Alexander Lee explores the Ghetto through the eyes of its Jewish inhabitants, from the domestic troubles of a seventeenth-century rabbi to the agonizing wait of a family bound for Auschwitz.
Authoritative, detailed, and timely, this definitive history shows what happens when war and economics collide with hatred—and also offers a powerful warning for the future.
In the early sixteenth century, amidst the ruins of war and mounting religious hatred, the world’s first Jewish “ghetto” was established in Venice. Constrained in cramped, often unsanitary conditions, the Jews who were forced to live there were extorted, abused, and subjected to countless humiliating restrictions. In the centuries that followed, the Venetian Ghetto would become the prototype for ghettos throughout Europe—and pave the way for modern antisemitism.
But this is also a tale of hope. Against the odds, the Ghetto’s residents thrived, creating a vibrant literary, musical, and religious community. They became essential to the survival of Venice itself—and as more Jewish refugees arrived, the Ghetto became a microcosm of the Jewish world.
Tracing its story from its medieval origins to the present day, historian Alexander Lee explores the Ghetto through the eyes of its Jewish inhabitants, from the domestic troubles of a seventeenth-century rabbi to the agonizing wait of a family bound for Auschwitz.
Authoritative, detailed, and timely, this definitive history shows what happens when war and economics collide with hatred—and also offers a powerful warning for the future.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 23, 2026
What was it like for a Jew living in Venice in 1550? What about 1700? How about during Mussolini's Fascist Regime?
The origin of the word "ghetto" actually comes from the real geographic location in Venice set aside for Jewish immigrants to live in the 1450s. This book tracks how those Jews, in that ghetto, interacted with the city/state of Venice and later with Italy over the course of the next 500 years. It tracks the city's wars vs the Ottoman Empire, the Thirty Years' War, the rise of nationalism and the creation of the Italian state, and finally the two world wars and the rise of Mussolini. It concludes with a chapter on the fallout of Nazism and the creation of Israel.
The book simultaneously has a very narrow focus (the Jews of Venice) and a broad one (500 years of history in Italy). It is a good read on a topic I am very familiar with (modern world history) from a perspective I am not. Considering the incredible and regrettable rise of antisemitism in our world over the past few years, this is a great book to give perspective on modern Jewish history without giving propaganda of any sort for either side of our current divide. Strongly recommend.
The origin of the word "ghetto" actually comes from the real geographic location in Venice set aside for Jewish immigrants to live in the 1450s. This book tracks how those Jews, in that ghetto, interacted with the city/state of Venice and later with Italy over the course of the next 500 years. It tracks the city's wars vs the Ottoman Empire, the Thirty Years' War, the rise of nationalism and the creation of the Italian state, and finally the two world wars and the rise of Mussolini. It concludes with a chapter on the fallout of Nazism and the creation of Israel.
The book simultaneously has a very narrow focus (the Jews of Venice) and a broad one (500 years of history in Italy). It is a good read on a topic I am very familiar with (modern world history) from a perspective I am not. Considering the incredible and regrettable rise of antisemitism in our world over the past few years, this is a great book to give perspective on modern Jewish history without giving propaganda of any sort for either side of our current divide. Strongly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found this book highly informative. It is well-paced with good story-telling. I seldom felt that the book got bogged down with detail. And there was some clever writing. On the other hand, the tone was too literary for my taste and there was too much use of Italian terms that brought me out of the story. I also felt that the book presumed a level of prior knowledge that I did not have. Overall though, this book is well worth reading. Thank you to Netgalley and Basic Books for the advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley!
This was so good, it was just also so dense. I really had to plug away at it over a few months, but there was an incredible amount of information in here and most of it was new to me. Mr. Lee is very detailed in his scholarship here and it shows. I would highly recommend to friends interested in academic feeling reads that get into the nitty gritty of antisemitism.
I was given the opportunity to read this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This was so good, it was just also so dense. I really had to plug away at it over a few months, but there was an incredible amount of information in here and most of it was new to me. Mr. Lee is very detailed in his scholarship here and it shows. I would highly recommend to friends interested in academic feeling reads that get into the nitty gritty of antisemitism.
I was given the opportunity to read this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews