The Murder of William of Norwich: The Origins of The Blood Libel in Medieval Europe

When the mutilated body of William, a young Christian boy, is found near Norwich, England, in 1144, rumors spread that local Jews carried out the killing in a mockery of Christ’s crucifixion — an act known as the “blood libel.” The idea that Jews engaged in ritual murder swiftly gained credence beyond Norwich and became deeply rooted in European cultural memory. In The Murder of William of Norwich: The Origins of The Blood Libel in Medieval Europe, E.M. (Emily) Rose *01 delves not only into the circumstances of William’s death and the trial that followed, but how the concept of blood libel continues today. Rose is a historian who has taught at Johns Hopkins, Villanova, and Rutgers.