Protocols of Prague

David Aaronovitch interviews Umberto Eco about his brilliant historical novel The Prague Cemetery set in 19th Europe, from Turin to Prague to Paris, at a time when conspiracies rule history. With his customary erudition and brilliance, Eco brings together Jesuits, Freemasons, Italian Republicans, French criminals and secret services, all linked by one single sinister villain. Eco and Aaronovitch talk about the Dreyfus affair and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, conspiracies, scapegoats and anti-semitism.

Umberto Eco has written works of fiction, literary criticism and philosophy. The Name of the Rose was a major international bestseller and his other works include Foucault's Pendulum and The Prague Cemetery and many brilliant collections of essays.

David Aaronovitch is a writer, broadcaster and commentator on culture, international affairs, politics and the media. His first book Paddling to Jerusalem won the Madoc Prize for travel writing. In 2009 he published Voodoo Histories. David also writes a blog about conspiracy theories.

In association with the Jewish Quarterly