Encyclopedia of Jewish History and Culture Online

Novel by Theodor Herzl, in which the leading proponent of the Zionist movement lays out his vision of a future “Jewish homeland.” Although Altneuland (“Old New Land,” 1941) is the mature expression of his Zionist ideal, the book has always been overshadowed by his original Zionist blueprint,  Der Judenstaat (“A Jewish State,” 1896), and dismissed as a “utopian” work. Examination of the work provides enlightening insights into Herzl’s worldview and allows for a new look at the founder of Zionism. 1. IntroductionHerzl started work on his novel  Altneuland in 1899, which was first …