In 1925 the Drei Masken Verlag of Munich reluctantly published a historical novel by Lion Feuchtwanger called Jud Süß. The book sold extremely well, and the English translation-titled Jew Süss (1926) in the British edition, Power (1926) in the American edition-became a bestseller. The novel established Feuchtwanger's worldwide reputation as an author of serious yet entertaining historical fiction. The Anglo-Saxon audience liked Feuchtwanger's professional solidity of research, clear and vivid style, exciting action scenes (although the book was rather slow moving on the whole), accurate description of historical details, keen interest in psychological factors, astute remarks on history, and focus on the problems of the outsider. The novel offered an enlightened view of history, expressed faith tempered by skepticism in the progress of humanity, and asked fundamental questions regarding the validity of the principles of Western civilization. German publishers had been afraid to publish Jud Sü...