Gold Ducats and Devilry Afoot By Yoel Sheridan

Paperback. 298 pages. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2012.

ISBN-13: 978-1470136635

Reviewed by Maureen Hoch

Gold Ducats and Devilry Afoot is an historical narrative, not a novel. It tells the tale of a Polish Jew, Henry Simons (Zevi Hirsch ben Simeon), who comes on business to England in the mid-eighteenth century. He is robbed and falls foul of the legal system. The story is well written and is backed up by original documents – trial records and pamphlets published by interested parties.

Henry Simons is the victim of a thieving rogue who robs him of over five hundred gold ducats and of a legal system that takes advantage of the foreigner who speaks no English. At first the local Jewish community takes no interest in his plight. Later they rally round and provide him with decent lawyers, and his situation improves. However, although he manages to clear his name – he has been accused of perjury – he never gets his money back and the thief is not punished.

Anti-Semitism was prevalent in England at this period which is at the outset of the Industrial Revolution and before the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. Simons is refused accommodation at inns, and is referred to in all the court documents as “the Jew”.

Yoel Sheridan bases his narrative solely on the original documents he has discovered by extensive research and does not pad the story with unconfirmed speculations. Thus there is no attempt to provide character insight or background.

I recommend this book to history buffs who will enjoy reading the original accounts of this curious incident and through them gain insight into the opportunities and hazards of life in England 250 years ago.