In the early 16th century, the dispute over the fate of Jewish books escalated into a massive intellectual confrontation that divided Europe. It gave birth to one of the most daring texts of the era—the satirical collection "Letters of Obscure Men," a literary response to denunciations, persecution, and attempts to restrict freedom of thought and speech.

This edition takes the reader back to the moment when the struggle over manuscripts and books became a struggle for the future of European culture.

The cover features an illustration from Johann Pfefferkorn's book "Passionate Protest" (Cologne, 1521), depicting Pfefferkorn himself and the execution of Johann Reuchlin. On the ground is a copy of Reuchlin's condemned work "The Eye Mirror." Bavarian State Library, Munich.

Armen Zakharyan is a philologist and the author of the podcast "Armen and Fyodor."