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Nineteenth Annual Darwin College Lecture Series 2004

EVIDENCE

Lecture 1   :   January 16th 2004

Representing The Enemy: Historical Evidence and its Ambiguities

Carlo Ginzburg

Franklin D. Murphy Professor of Italian Renaissance Studies at UCLA

Biography |   Abstract  |   Printable Version

Abstract

My lecture will explore the ambiguities of historical evidence focusing on a book published anonymously in Brussels in 1864: DIALOGUE AUX ENFERS ENTRE MACHIAVEL ET MONTESQUIEU (DIALOGUE IN HELL BETWEEN MACHIAVELLI AND MONTESQUIEU). Joly's book had an unpredictable aftermath, since some sections of it were plagiarized in the PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION, the twentieth century antisemitic best-seller. After the discovery of the plagiarism, the DIALOGUE IN HELL has been often reprinted and translated into several languages; but so far, I will argue, its originality has not been adequately recognized.

The lectures are given at 5.30 p.m. in The Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue, with an adjacent overflow theatre with live TV coverage. Each lecture is typically attended by 600 people so you must arrive early to ensure a place.