The city without Jews

Hugo Bettauer's The City Without Jews is a sharp satirical dystopia that imagines Vienna expelling its Jewish population, only to discover the catastrophic cultural and economic consequences of that decision. First published in 1922, the novel belongs to the interwar tradition of political satire, combining speculative fiction with journalistic immediacy and social comedy. Bettauer's prose is brisk, ironic, and pointed, exposing the absurdities of populist nationalism while dramatizing how prejudice corrodes civic life. What begins as a provocative fantasy unfolds as a prescient critique of antisemitism in post–First World War Austria. Bettauer, an Austrian writer and journalist, was known for his liberal convictions and willingness to confront social hypocrisy. A cosmopolitan observer of urban modernity, he wrote on sexuality, crime, and politics with unusual candor. His sensitivity to the tensions of Viennese society—especially the rise of antisemitic rhetoric—clearly informs this novel's urgency. The book was not merely imaginative speculation but a direct intervention in the political climate of its day. This is an essential work for readers interested in Central European literature, Jewish history, and the genealogy of modern dystopian fiction. Its wit makes it readable; its historical foresight makes it unforgettable. Bettauer's novel remains both a literary achievement and a warning.