Diaries of Theodor Herzl [Hardcover]

Theodor Herzl (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 494 pages
• Publisher: Peter Smith Pub Inc (June 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844622478
• ISBN-13: 978-0844622477
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,899,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The personal testimony of Zionism's Father, May 6, 2005

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nadav haber (jerusalem Israel) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Diaries of Theodor Herzl (Hardcover)

As an Israeli, I have grown up with Herzl'a name. Streets and towns are named after him, and his picture is everywhere. But of the man himself, all I knew was the famous slogan "If you want, you can make it happen", and the attributed saying "In Bazel I have created the Jewish State". Reading the diaries revealed much more.

Herzl was a complex figure, torn between his Jewishness and his love of German culture. He said in his diary "My only wish was to become a member of the Prussian nobilty". Realizing that as a Jew he cannot fully become German, was for him a great blow. The solution he found was to create a state that is modelled after united Germany, but that is run by Jews, and where Jews are not oppressed just because they are Jews. He intended to be the Chancelor of this state, just like his hero, Bismark. Herzl hit on something very meaningful with the Jews in Europe, especially Eastern Europe, where antisemitism was extremely overt. Judging from today's prespective, his mission was very successful - a Jewish state was established 52 years after he published his manifesto - The Jewish State (1896).
The diaries reveal a man dedicated to the cause, extremely self confident, and a good judge of character. His identity conflicts are clear, although he was not fully aware of them. HIs writing is fluent and absorbing - Herzl was a talented journalist.
This book is important - to anyone interested in Zionism, Israel, and national movements.