the 20th centuries. Besides historical work, Presser also wrote works of literature. His book The Night of the Girondists, based on his war time experiences, received literary prizes and became an international best-seller. Set in the Dutch transit camp of Westerbork, the leading character of this book is an assimilated Jewish teacher collaborating with the Nazis. His job was to select Jews for transportation to Auschwitz, but he later realises that as a Jew, he was also bound to share the fate of those he had sent away. Presser also wrote poetry and even ventured into the area of crime fiction. Bibliography Historical works Das Buch "De Tribus Impostoribus" (Von den drei Betrügern). Amsterdam: H.J. Paris Publisher, 1926; 169 p. (doctoral dissertation, with the highest distinction, written and published in German). De Tachtigjarige Oorlog [The Eighty Years' War]. Amsterdam: Elsevier Publishers, 1941; 304 p. (under ps.), 1948 (3rd ed., under his own name; 6th ed. 1978; 378 p.). Napoleon: Historie en legende [Napoleon: History and Legend]. Amsterdam: Elsevier Publishers, 1946; 596 p. (7th ed. 1978; 632 p.). German translations (by Christian Zinsser): Napoleon: das Leben und die Legende. Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1977. Zürich: Manesse Verlag, 1990, 1997; 1024 p. . Napoleon: die Entschlüsselung einer Legende. Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt, 1979. Amerika: Van kolonie tot wereldmacht [America: From Colony to World Power]. Amsterdam: Elsevier Publishers, 1949 (4th revised ed. 1976; 592 p., with a chapter on the period 1965–1975 by Dr. Rob Kroes). Historia hodierna [Contemporary history]. Inaugural lecture. University of Amsterdam, 2 October 1950. Leiden: E. J. Brill Publishers, 1950; 35 p. Reprinted in: Uit het werk van dr. J. Presser [collection of 32 essays by Dr. J. Presser, written between 1929 and 1969], Amsterdam: Athenaeum, Polak & Van Gennep Publishers, 1969, pp. 209–225. Ondergang. De vervolging en verdelging van het Nederlandse Jodendom 1940–1945 [Extinction. The Persecution and Destruction of Dutch Jewry, 1940–1945]. Monograph Number 10 by the Netherlands' State Institute for War Documentation. The Hague: Staatsuitgeverij (Government Printer) & Martinus Nijhoff, 1965; vol. 1, XIV + 526 p.; vol. 2, VIII + 568 p. (8th ed. 1985). (Dutch PDF and Text download of book) Abridged English translations (by Arnold Pomerans): ; 556 p. The destruction of the Dutch Jews. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1969; 556 p. "Material Witness: The Netherlands State Institute for War Documentation", in: Delta, vol. 9, nr. 4, Winter 1966-1967, pp. 47–53 "Introduction to the English