Yair Mintzker is professor of history at Princeton University. He is the author of The Defortification of the German City, 1689–1866.

"Mintzker paints a subtle picture of Jewish life in the early eighteenth century."---Alexandra Przyrembel, American Historical Review --- "Yair Mintzker’s new book on crime, sensation, religious-ethnic difference, power, and perspective could not be more timely. . . . Mintzker’s prowess as a historian is delightful in his subtle attention to detail, and in making those details matter."---Joshua Teplitsky, Los Angeles Review of Books --- "Virtuoso scholarly performance."---Jonathan Karp, Jewish Review of Books --- "Genre-bending. . . . This book not only sheds new light on one of the most disputed characters of Jewish history, but also raises questions fundamental to historical interpretation in the 21st century."---Michael Brenner, Moment Magazine --- "[The] documents are interpreted with consummate skill. . . . What is clear from Mintzker's inspired readings is that Oppenheimer became a cipher for much larger issues that had little to do with his actions. . . . He is right to hope that his 'polyphonic' challenge to mainstream historiography will be successful."---Bryan Cheyette, Times Higher Education --- "Thoroughly researched, enlightening, and compulsively readable."---Mitchell Abidor, Jewish Currents --- "Whatever approximation to the truth the polyphonic method yields, it brings the society and its protagonists to life in a way I have never seen before. On account of the rich texture of the evidence, the ancien régime becomes real, while Mintzker's lively prose turns the case into a detective story. . . . This wonderful book raises all sorts of questions. We are left to make up our own minds. Which was the real Oppenheimer? Can we find a compromise among the four accounts, and on what basis? I certainly cannot, but Mintzker’s attempt to do so makes this work an excellent exercise."---Jonathan Steinberg, Literary Review --- "Well written and engaging. . . . This meticulously researched work offers a fascinating and intelligent accounting of Oppenheimer's life that will captivate readers of history and Jewish studies."---Jacqueline Parascandola, Library Journal --- "This remarkable book does much more than offer a gripping reconstruction of the 1737 trial of Joseph Suss Oppenheimer, who had been the personal banker and advisor of the duke of a small German state and was executed, after the duke's death, for serious crimes against the state. Such a reconstruction would already have been a significant achievement, as the rigorous attention to detail and nuance bring the case vividly to life. But Mintzker . . . also explains the challenges presented to a historian in ascertaining the truth about the trial, and the rationale behind his way of dealing with the evidentiary record. . . . This fascinating intellectual journey deserves a wide audience." --- "Each of Mintzker’s source explorations is shrewd, elegant and illuminating. . . . As micro-studies in source interpretation, Mintzker’s readings are masterly."---Adam Sutcliffe, Times Literary Supplement --- "Finalist for the 2018 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, Jewish Book Council" --- "Winner of the 2017 National Jewish Book Award in History (Gerrard and Ella Berman Memorial Award)" --- "One of Financial Times (FT.com) Best Books of 2017: History"