The book by the prominent English scientist Norman Cohn is devoted to an analytical review of the history of the emergence and widespread dissemination in various countries of the world of a number of political fakes of a provocative nature, which formed the basis of the notorious “Protocols of the Elders of Zion”. The history of the fabrication of the “Protocols” themselves is very complicated and is connected with activities of the Tsarist secret police in Russia. The book provides an analysis of anti-Semitism in Russia, showing the historical background against which, using the well-known tendency towards mysticism and Judeophobia of the last Romanovs, the ultra-conservative part of court circles and political reaction acted. The book is intended for a wide range of readers.