Keiron Pim, Miri Rubin

How was life for Jews in medieval England? Recent scholarship and a groundbreaking new translation of Hebrew poetry from Norwich shed light on a dark period of Anglo-Jewish history. Keiron Pim and Miri Rubin discuss the Jew Meir of Norwich and the writings of a monk, Thomas of Monmouth, the first Christian narrative to link Jews to child murder.

Into the Light the Medieval Hebrew Poetry of Meir of Norwich is a 2013 translation by Ellman Crasnow and Bente Elsworth of the 700-year old poetry of Meir ben Eliyahu. The Jews of Norwich were persecuted between 1144 when the ritual murder charge of ‘Saint’ William was fabricated, and 1290, when the king expelled the whole English community. Meir was probably working during this time.

Keiron Pim

Before leaving in 2014 to focus on writing books, Keiron Pim worked as literary editor at the Eastern Daily Press newspaper. He edited and introduced Into the Light: the Medieval Hebrew Poetry of Meir of Norwich (East Publishing, June 2013). He lives in Norwich with his wife and three young daughters.

Miri Rubin

Miri Rubin is Professor of Early Modern History at Queen Mary\'s, London. She has written extensively on social and religious history. Her latest book is Mother of God: A History of the Virgin Mary.

Rebecca Abrams

Rebecca Abrams is an award winning author of fiction and non-fiction, regular literary critic for The Financial Times and former columnist for The Daily Telegraph. She is Writer-in-Residence at Brasenose College, Oxford.