[Early Zionist Novel] Elizabeth, Charlotte. Judah's Lion

Elizabeth, Charlotte. [Early Zionist Novel] Judah's Lion. New York: Baker and Scribner, 1848. [10225]

Publisher's black cloth, boards in blind, spine in gilt, 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches, corners & ends worn through. 335 clean pp., tight, spine is cocked. Fair. Hardcover.

This title has been called a "Zionist novel," and is considered to be one of the first, if not the first novel to discuss Zionism and the return of the Jews to Palestine. It tells the story of an English Jew, Alick Cohen, who travels to the Holy Land, converts to Christianity but retains his Jewish identity. The "Lion of Judah" in this book is the third lion on a flag flying on an English ship, and it is remarked that the third lion was added after Richard the Third's conquest of Palestine. The story links England with the Jews returning to Palestine, as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna (1792-1846), English author of many religious books & tracts. She wrote books for children as well as adults, and edited a two-volume set of English Martyrology, adapted from Foxe.