The city without Jews

In Short

This satirical novel imagines a near-future Vienna that legislates the total expulsion of its Jewish population, including those of mixed descent. Following the exodus, the city suffers an immediate, catastrophic collapse of its commerce, arts, and social morale. As the society descends into stagnation and absurdity, the narrative tracks the covert return of a young Jewish protagonist who manipulates the political tide. A sharp, prescient work of early 20th-century fiction, the book serves as both a biting critique of rising nationalism and a tragic, cautionary exploration of the symbiotic nature of a cosmopolitan society.

The Story

The story begins with the sudden, overwhelming passage of a law in Vienna that mandates the exile of all Jews and anyone of Jewish origin. The decree is enforced with chilling efficiency, categorized by profession and wealth. As the deadline approaches, the city erupts in celebratory fervor, with flags waving and fireworks signaling the birth of a "pure" Vienna. However, the initial delirium quickly sours. The departure of the Jewish population leaves a gaping void in the city’s economic and cultural heartbeat. Banks collapse, luxury trades vanish, and the housing market—initially seen as a windfall for "Aryans"—leads to social decay.

Against this backdrop, we follow the struggle of individuals like Leo Strakosch, a young Jewish man who is forced to leave, and his lover, Lotte, who remains behind. While the government of Chancellor Dr. Schwertfeger descends into incompetence and paranoia, the citizens begin to realize their mistake. The streets, once vibrant, become morose; the great resorts empty, and the currency plummets.

Leo, meanwhile, transforms himself into "Henry Dufresne," a mysterious French artist. He returns to Vienna under this alias, embedding himself in the city’s elite circles. By leveraging the dissatisfaction of the middle classes, who suffer under the lack of Jewish "yeast" in their bread—a metaphor for the missing vitality and intelligence—Leo stirs the political pot. He orchestrates a movement for new elections, using the city’s growing economic misery to turn public sentiment against the regime.

The climax arrives when the political tension reaches a breaking point. A massive protest forces the dissolution of the National Assembly. A new election results in a victory for a coalition favoring the repeal of the expulsion law. In a final, ironic turn, a single, drunken politician missing the vote is bypassed when the law is ultimately overturned. Leo reveals his true identity to Lotte and her family, returning to the city a hero. The book concludes with a scene at the City Hall, where the Mayor addresses the returning citizens and the first Jewish resident—Leo—is carried through the streets by a cheering, repentant populace.

How It Unfolds

The law is passed Following a speech by the Chancellor, the National Assembly unanimously approves a measure to expel every Jew from the country. Public celebrations and fireworks mark the day, as the population believes they have finally secured their future.

The city decays Weeks turn into months, and the economic reality of the expulsion takes hold. Businesses shutter, the banking system disintegrates, and the city’s vibrant cultural life disappears, leaving the remaining population in a state of growing resentment and confusion.

A stranger returns The exiled Leo Strakosch re-enters Vienna in the guise of a French artist named Henry Dufresne. He begins subtly influencing local landlords and shopkeepers, encouraging their frustration with the failing status quo.

The tipping point As the economy reaches its nadir, Leo uses a massive public meeting to champion the demand for new elections. The slogan catches fire, and workers and middle-class citizens alike turn against the ruling party in a desperate demand for change.

The dramatic repeal Amid political chaos and mass demonstrations, the government is forced to resign. A new coalition takes power, the expulsion law is overturned, and the exiled population begins its journey home.

The People

Leo Strakosch is the novel’s catalyst. Driven by his love for Lotte and a desire for justice, he uses his intelligence to orchestrate his return. He succeeds by masking his identity, proving that his "tenacity" can manipulate the very system that expelled him.

Dr. Schwertfeger is the Chancellor and the primary architect of the expulsion. He views the Jewish population as an "oppressive" force and believes their removal will allow for a pure, quiet development of Austrian culture. His failure is marked by his inability to see that he has destroyed the infrastructure of the nation he sought to lead.

Lotte is the bridge between the old life and the new. She remains in Vienna, suffering the loss of her partner, but she keeps her eyes open to the changing public mood. Her refusal to abandon hope allows for the story’s romantic and political resolution.

Herr Habietnik is a shopkeeper who rises to prominence after the expulsion. He represents the "average" beneficiary of the law who quickly realizes that without the Jewish market, his business—and the entire economy—has no foundation, turning him from a supporter of the law into a casualty of its success.

In Its Own Voice

“The City Without Jews! It sounds almost like a jest, a paradox.”

The narrator introduces the central premise, acknowledging that the idea of such an expulsion at first seems impossible, even to the cosmopolitan reader.

“The trouble is simply that we Austrian Aryans are no match for the Jews, that we are ruled, oppressed, and violated by a small minority because this minority possesses qualities which we lack.”

The Chancellor delivers this justification during a parliamentary session, articulating the antisemitic logic that underpins the entire catastrophe of the plot.

“My beloved Jew!”

The Mayor of Vienna uses this dramatic, ironic phrase to greet the returning Leo Strakosch, signaling the total reversal of the city’s public stance.

What It's Really About

The book is a profound meditation on the dangers of scapegoating and the interconnectedness of modern society. It argues that a nation’s strength does not come from homogeneity, but from the diverse "yeast" of different cultures and backgrounds. By using the expulsion as a thought experiment, the book explores how easily a population can be manipulated by populist rhetoric and how, in the absence of a target for their frustrations, that same population will inevitably turn on itself. It is a work about the hollowness of nationalist pride and the economic, spiritual, and social ruin that follows when a society purges its own vitality.

Why Read It Today

Readers today will find this book both haunting and remarkably sharp. Written just before the rise of the horrors that would eventually engulf Europe, it possesses an eerie, prophetic clarity. It is a work of satire that refuses to be entirely grim, using the absurdities of the political elite to highlight the tragedy of the situation.

The prose is journalistic and direct, reflecting the author’s background as a reporter. While it captures the specific atmosphere of 1920s Vienna—with its cafes, social hierarchies, and specific regional anxieties—the core struggle remains universal. You will encounter some period-specific attitudes, and the satirical tone can be biting, but the narrative moves with a propulsive energy that keeps the reader engaged.

It is a difficult read because of the weight of its subject, yet it is essential for anyone interested in the anatomy of social collapse. You will walk away from it thinking not just about the dangers of hatred, but about the fragile threads of daily existence that bind a community together. It is a book that asks you to consider who belongs in a city, and what happens when you try to tear that city apart.