George Shanks
Encyclopedia
George Shanks was an expatriate
British
man, who is most famous as the first translator of Protocols of Zion
into the English language
. His version was produced for The Britons
, an early anti-immigration and anti-Semitic organization.
Shanks was the son of a well-known English
merchant who resided in Moscow
. As a result of the Russian Revolution of 1917
, the family sustained financial ruin and became refugee
s in London. It is believed that the translation was completed during this period. His identity was not discovered until 1978; initially, it was believed that Victor E. Marsden
was the translator, as his name came to be associated with the British
English language
translation of the Protocols in pamphlet
or book
let form soon after he died in 1920.
Shanks is known to have engaged in a dispute with The Britons over payment of the royalties to which he was entitled regarding their publication of The Jewish Peril
.
In the United States
the initial translation of this notorious anti-Semitic forgery is associated with several names, arguably the most important of the names being Boris Brasol
, Natalie de Bogory
, and Dr. Harris Ayers Houghton.
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
man, who is most famous as the first translator of Protocols of Zion
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is a fraudulent, antisemitic text purporting to describe a Jewish plan for achieving global domination. It was first published in Russia in 1903, translated into multiple languages, and disseminated internationally in the early part of the twentieth century...
into the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. His version was produced for The Britons
The Britons
The Britons was an anti-Semitic and anti-immigration organization founded in July 1919 by Henry Hamilton Beamish. The organization published pamphlets and propaganda under the imprint names of the Judaic Publishing Co. and subsequently the Britons Publishing Society...
, an early anti-immigration and anti-Semitic organization.
Shanks was the son of a well-known English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
merchant who resided in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. As a result of the Russian Revolution of 1917
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
, the family sustained financial ruin and became refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s in London. It is believed that the translation was completed during this period. His identity was not discovered until 1978; initially, it was believed that Victor E. Marsden
Victor E. Marsden
Victor Emile Marsden was a journalist and translator, known for allegedly translating an English language version of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion...
was the translator, as his name came to be associated with the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation of the Protocols in pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
or book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
let form soon after he died in 1920.
Shanks is known to have engaged in a dispute with The Britons over payment of the royalties to which he was entitled regarding their publication of The Jewish Peril
The Jewish Peril
The Jewish Peril is the first edition of the text commonly referred to as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It is also the lead titles of one of the many different imprints or editions of the Protocols of Zion - The Jewish Peril...
.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
the initial translation of this notorious anti-Semitic forgery is associated with several names, arguably the most important of the names being Boris Brasol
Boris Brasol
Boris Leo Brasol , lawyer and literary critic, was a White Russian immigrant to the United States.-Biography:...
, Natalie de Bogory
Natalie de Bogory
Natalie de Bogory, , is primarily known for her notorious work in translating from the Russian language into the English language, and subsequently distributing and participating in having published the first or second American edition in the United States of the infamous Plagiarism known as the...
, and Dr. Harris Ayers Houghton.
Works
- The Jewish PerilThe Jewish PerilThe Jewish Peril is the first edition of the text commonly referred to as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It is also the lead titles of one of the many different imprints or editions of the Protocols of Zion - The Jewish Peril...
. Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
- anonymously translated by George Shanks
- Related name: Nilus, Sergei AleksandrovichSergei NilusSergei Aleksandrovich Nilus was a Russian religious writer and self-described mystic....
, 1862-1930 [1905 Russian source]
- The Jewish PerilThe Jewish PerilThe Jewish Peril is the first edition of the text commonly referred to as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It is also the lead titles of one of the many different imprints or editions of the Protocols of Zion - The Jewish Peril...
: Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
- anonymously translated by George Shanks
- Related names: Nilus, Sergi︠e︡ĭ AleksandrovichSergei NilusSergei Aleksandrovich Nilus was a Russian religious writer and self-described mystic....
, 1862-1930 [1905 Russian source]
External links
- Library catalogue entry at the Hebrew University of JerusalemHebrew University of JerusalemThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...