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The Archive Thief: The Man Who Salvaged French Jewish History in the Wake of the Holocaust (Oxford Series on History and Archives) Illustrated Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

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In the aftermath of the Holocaust, the Jewish historian Zosa Szajkowski stole tens of thousands of archival documents related to French Jewish history from public archives and collections in France and moved them, illicitly, to New York. Why did this respectable historian become a thief? And why did librarians in the United States and Israel accept these materials from him, turning a blind eye to the signs of ownership they bore?

With her award-winning book,
The Archive Thief, Lisa Moses Leff reconstructs Szajkowski's gripping story in all its ambiguity. Born into poverty in Russian Poland in 1911, Szajkowski was a self-made man who managed to make a life for himself as an intellectual, first as a journalist in 1930s Paris, and then, after a harrowing escape to New York in 1941, as a scholar. Although he never taught at a university or even earned a PhD, Szajkowski became one of the world's foremost experts on the history of the Jews in modern France, publishing in Yiddish, English, and Hebrew. His work opened up new ways of thinking about Jewish emancipation, economic and social modernization, and the rise of modern anti-Semitism.

But beneath Szajkowski's scholarly accomplishments lay his shameful secret: his pathbreaking articles were based upon documents that he moved illicitly to New York. Eventually, he sold these documents, piecemeal, to American and Israeli research libraries where they still remain. Leff takes us into the backstage of the archives, revealing the powerful ideological, economic, and psychological forces that made Holocaust-era Jewish scholars care more deeply than ever before about preserving the remnants of their past. As Leff shows, it is only when we understand the issues at the heart of his story, in all their ambiguity and complexity, that we can begin to address the larger questions of the rightful ownership of Jewish archives, as well as other contested archives, that are still at issue today.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A] riveting portrait of an enigmatic scholar and a reflection about the construction of archives....[A] richly researched, lucidly written and, ultimately, deeply moving book....Lisa Moses Leff has made an invaluable contribution to the expanding literatures on postwar communal reconstruction and Jewish cultural restitution."--Geraldine Gudefin, H-Judaic

"The Archive Thief is a richly researched, lucidly written and, ultimately, deeply moving book The book is all the more engaging that its author is able to situate Szajkowski's actions within the context of postwar discussions about the rightful ownership of archives. Finally, Leff makes a very persuasive argument about the ambiguous legacy of Szajkowski's collecting and sales."--Geraldine Gudefin, H-Judaic

"How the chaos, needs, and rivalries of post-Second World War Jewish collectors and institutions played into [Szajkowski's] hands, is the subject of Lisa Moses Leff's engrossing and painstakingly documented book. Her research was made all the more demanding by the fact that there is no way of knowing all that is actually missing from collections. It is the wider context of her book that is so fascinating, for it raises important questions about the very nature of archives themselves, particularly what she calls 'archives of catastrophe.'"--Times Literary Supplement

"Through Szajkowski's personal biography, Leff has illuminated the larger story of how Jewish archives and libraries were constructed and reconfigured in the aftermath of World War II, as the centers of gravity in the Jewish world shifted from Europe to Israel and the United States...Leff casts new light on this transformative moment in postwar Jewish life. As a result of her beautifully written and deeply researched book, we have a greater appreciation of the degree to which the libraries and archives on which we depend are themselves "historical artifacts." In this sense, Leff's thought-provoking and imaginative book raises questions that will intrigue all historians. This work also constitutes a fitting tribute to a man who, despite his flaws and weaknesses, made immense contributions to the field of Jewish history."--Jewish History

"[A] brilliant new book...Leff has produced a page-turning account that offers a model for how post-Holocaust Jewish history should be written. The work ponders questions that should interest both specialist and generalist readers and ought to be assigned widely and debated extensively."--English Historical Review

"[A] superb book...Pages fly by as her meticulous and surprising study of the extraordinary life of her 'hero' keeps her reader breathless...[A]n astonishing work of history, founded on a group of original documents by means of which she raises fundamental questions about the very nature of the archive as it fluctuates between being a state memoir and a way to preserve a particular history and culture."--Journal of Modern History

"Lisa Moses Leff tells Szajkowski's fascinating story in a book as gripping as a crime novel, with profound insight into the role played by archive collections in the modern construction of national histories Leff creates a complex portrait of this 'archive thief,' who was no simple villain Szajkowski's story is stunning and Leff tells it exceptionally well. The Archive Thief is a meticulously researched scholarly work that deftly incorporates archival sources, Szajkowski's published writings, and his private correspondence. It is beautifully written and sophisticated without ever becoming pedantic."--H-France

"The Archive Thief is a richly detailed and sympathetic portrait that unfolds with elements of a detective story. In writing about the trajectory of Szajkowski's life and career, she raises provocative questions about the nature of collecting, the role of archives and where they belong, and the very writing of history."--Jewish Week

"Leff, in this deeply researched and intriguing book, draws a nuanced portrait of a scholar who turned to crime to preserve his status as a historian of modern Jewish history."--Times of Israel

"A work of learned detection and a history of the making of history, this absorbing study is also a portrait of, perhaps, the oddest of all creators of modern Jewish scholarship. A shy, roguish, charming man, self-taught, an erstwhile Communist and fighter in the French Foreign Legion, Zosa Szajkowski's jagged, complex life is explored in this work with perceptiveness, and commendable empathy."--Steven J. Zipperstein, Daniel E. Koshland Professor in Jewish Culture and History, Stanford University

"With her dogged research, keen analysis and scintillating writing, Lisa Leff in The Archive Thief marries historical scholarship with the detective genre. The story of Zosa Szajkowski could have been - and maybe still will be--the stuff of a great mystery novel, played out on multiple continents, with a perplexing villain who sometimes seems like a hero. But instead Lisa Leff has used these details to show the complex work done by archives and the deep ideological meaning associated with the documents of the past."--Hasia Diner, Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg Professor of American Jewish History and Director of the Goldstein-Goren Center for American Jewish History, New York University

"Why did an accomplished Jewish historian steal tens of thousands of historical documents? In unraveling that mystery, Lisa Moses Leff has created a compelling personal portrait, while at the same time elucidating key issues of Jewish history and historiography in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, The Archive Thief is more than just a fine work of scholarship; it is also a page-turner."--Aaron Lansky, author of Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books

"One of Leff's many illuminating discussions treats the impact of Szajkowski's thefts and the role of archives and archivists generally in shaping the history we tell." World Literature Today

About the Author


Lisa Moses Leff is Professor of History at American University in Washington, D.C. She is the author of Sacred Bonds of Solidarity: The Rise of Jewish Internationalism in Nineteenth-Century France.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Illustrated edition (July 7, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199380953
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199380954
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.21 x 6.14 x 0.69 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

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4.3 out of 5 stars
29 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book offers remarkable information about history in general and France. It is meticulously researched and documented, with original documents that reveal precious information and preserve Jewish history. The storyline is captivating and reveals valuable details. Readers describe the book as wonderful and creative, showing the use of archives and salvaging Jewish History.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

6 customers mention "Information quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's information quality. They find it well-researched and documented, with original documents revealing precious information. The book is described as a fascinating story that blends cultural history with a detective tale. Readers recommend it to Jews and people interested in how history is written.

"...I recommend this book to all Jews , to people interested in how history is written and to folks who can see a person in many shades of gray and not..." Read more

"...very thought provoking questions; also, I found the book to be very informative." Read more

"I'm loving this book! It has a creative view of the archive, history and their interconnection...." Read more

"...repetition of particular ideas and words made this exceptional feat of research far more impressive as an intricately woven torrent of references...." Read more

4 customers mention "Narrative quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storyline. They find it a unique blend of detective and cultural history.

"Quite a captivating story line. Also, there were more than a few side bars which I found extremely interesting...." Read more

"...the reader to expect even more robust knowledge, continuously mingled with a driving narrative...." Read more

"A fascinating and revealing story, beautifullly rendered. It is simultaneously a detective story and cultural history--a rare combination." Read more

"A story you can't imagine." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and say it's a wonderful book that shows the use of archives and salvaging.

"Really enjoyed this book. Exceeded expectations." Read more

"I'm loving this book! It has a creative view of the archive, history and their interconnection...." Read more

"...the middle, the repetition of particular ideas and words made this exceptional feat of research far more impressive as an intricately woven torrent..." Read more

"A wonderful book that shows the use of archives and the salvaging of Jewish History." Read more

3 customers mention "Archival content"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's archival content. They say it shows the use of archives and the salvaging of Jewish history. The original documents reveal and preserve precious information, and the book has a creative view of the archive, history, and their interconnection.

"...original documents reveal and preserve precious information. facts replace silent ignorance...." Read more

"I'm loving this book! It has a creative view of the archive, history and their interconnection...." Read more

"A wonderful book that shows the use of archives and the salvaging of Jewish History." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2016
    Remarkable information about the creation of history in general and French Jewish history in particular. original documents reveal and preserve precious information. facts replace silent ignorance. The long history of Jews in France is not common knowledge. The efforts of one flawed man to save this information and make it public are brilliantly revealed in this book.
    I recommend this book to all Jews , to people interested in how history is written and to folks who can see a person in many shades of gray and not simply in stark contrasts.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2015
    Quite a captivating story line. Also, there were more than a few side bars which I found extremely interesting. Prof. Leff engages the reader by posing some very thought provoking questions; also, I found the book to be very informative.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2022
    Really enjoyed this book. Exceeded expectations.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019
    My aunt is an archivist for the Cathedral of St. Paul, MN. She really enjoyed receiving this book as a gift.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2015
    I'm loving this book! It has a creative view of the archive, history and their interconnection.
    Impressive the contradictory role of one men in the making and destruction of the archives.
    Beautifully written.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2019
    Incredible energy and painstaking detail prevails throughout. The first chapters may prepare the reader to expect even more robust knowledge, continuously mingled with a driving narrative. However educational, subsequent chapters were less engaging.

    Come the middle, the repetition of particular ideas and words made this exceptional feat of research far more impressive as an intricately woven torrent of references. Hyperbole did not make up for it as a good read.

    I'd highly recommend this work of course to most any historian, researcher, archivist etc. It was difficult to read through to the end (before switching books) where the main character (spoiler alert) self negates.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2018
    A wonderful book that shows the use of archives and the salvaging of Jewish History.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2016
    A fascinating and revealing story, beautifullly rendered. It is simultaneously a detective story and cultural history--a rare combination.
    One person found this helpful
    Report