Alfred dreyfus 18591935, a french artillery officer and graduate of the french military academy. Today the dreyfus affair is still constantly evoked. Why the dreyfus affair matters why x matters series. This balanced and thoughtful account of dreyfus is a compelling reminder of the complexity and pathos of the past. But though innocent, according to read, a british writer known for catholicthemed novels who sees the dreyfus affair as a defining moment in the history of the catholic church, dreyfus was a less than admirable figure. Numerous books have been written about the affair in which french army officer alfred dreyfus was wrongfully accused of treason, and this volume by piers paul read, simply. Robert harriss novel about the dreyfus affair an officer and a spy has been named the best thriller of the year by the crime writers association. This vivid account of the dreyfus affair often reads like a cloakanddagger mystery, for the bare facts of dreyfuss case seem almost too melodramatic to be true. In 1894, french captain alfred dreyfus is wrongfully convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment at devils island. The dreyfus affair, in some ways the first of those dramas, held france spellbound. In fact, as noted by adam gopnik in a 2009 new yorker article on the dreyfus affair. He was convicted of treason by military courtmartial and sentenced to life imprisonment on devils island, but over the next 12 years a small group of human rights supporters was able to clear.
I knew about the dreyfus affair on a very high level, but this gave me a completely new look at the events. The controversy centered on the question of the guilt or innocence of army captain alfred dreyfus, who had been convicted of treason for allegedly selling military secrets to the germans in 1894. Ruth harriss meticulous, assured, and engrossing account of the dreyfus affair calls to mind none of the many books on the subject harris has produced a history sensitive to historical limits. Why the dreyfus affair matters why x matters series paperback. The besthitting, bestfielding young shortstop in america, randy dreyfus is his countrys hero, but when his affair with second baseman d. Captain alfred dreyfus was a rising star in the french artillery command. The dreyfus affair by piers paul read offers a novelists take on a defining drama of turnofthecentury france image 1 of 2 the last known picture of captain alfred dreyfus, taken in the 1930s.
Included in this gallery are court scenes during the trial, the court martial, and reading of the verdict at rennes. The dreyfus affair book the seattle public library. Dreyfus a family affair, 17891945 by michael burns 576 pages. Leslie derfler, the foremost american authority on the dreyfus affair, puts the affair in historical and social context for the reader. On october 15, 1894, alfred dreyfus, a jewish artillery captain attached to the french general staff, was arrested on charges of having betrayed his country by selling military secrets to the germans. With jean dujardin, louis garrel, emmanuelle seigner, gregory gadebois. The dreyfus affair never goes away, and is the subject of a brave new book by the novelist and lawyer louis begley, why the dreyfus affair. The unjust conviction of french jewish captain alfred dreyfus on charges of treason started the dreyfus affair, a major event in european antisemitism.
However, dreyfus also had enemies, especially within the impoverished aristocracy, who disliked him because he was. And thats because ever since i found out via josh lambert that a new novel connected with this major episode in worldfrenchjewish history will be on shelves soon susan daitchs paper conspiracies ive been recalling. He develops a new colour aesthetic in fauvism which is the french word for. During the heated year of 1899, melies made a series of eleven oneminute nonfiction films about the dreyfus affair as it was still unfolding, writes elizabth ezra, portraying sympathetically dreyfus arrest, imprisonment, and retrial. Robert harriss novel about dreyfus affair named thriller of the year.
Eleanor levieux is an editor and translator who was born in the united states and has lived in france since 1959. The dreyfus affair was a political scandal that divided the third french republic from 1894. An officer and a spy thus opens with what seems to be the end of the dreyfus affair, but it proves to be only the beginning of what harris, the bestselling british author of fatherland. The affair, as it is known in french, has come to symbolise modern injustice in the francophone world, 1 and it remains one of the most notable examples of a. The dreyfus affair is the backdrop of an officer and a spy, roman polanskis new thriller. The belle epoque in france saw the lows of the dreyfus affair but also sowed the. Feb 01, 2012 the dreyfus affair pops up time and again when reading french books from the end of the nineteenth century. The dreyfus affair is distinguished by the large number of books published on this subject. Leslie derfler on october 15, 1894, alfred dreyfus, a jewish artillery captain attached to the french general staff, was arrested on charges of having betrayed his country by selling military secrets to the. Politics, emotion, and the scandal of the century by oxford historian ruth harris, who has unearthed a mass of new documentation, is an extraordinary study of the affair as a tragic drama that swept up a man, his family and friends, and more widely french society and the french state. The dreyfus affair book san francisco public library.
The dreyfus affair will continue to matter as long as there are those prepared to defend human rights and the dignity of every human life against claims of expediency, reasons of state and official miscarriages of justice. The dreyfus affair jaccuse and other writings book. The belle epoque combined a preoccupation with the noblesse of the old regime with the seeds for modernism, says oxford history professor ruth harris, author of an awardwinning book on the dreyfus affair. List of books and articles about alfred dreyfus online.
Culture wars in the age of dreyfus by frederick brown, dr. In the splendidly terse why the dreyfus affair matters 2009, louis begley brought a lawyernovelists insight to untangling the deceptions through which dreyfus was framed, and he. Numerous books have been written about the affair in which french army officer alfred dreyfus was wrongfully accused of treason, and this volume by piers. In september 1894 the french authorities intercepted a letter which they claimed emanated from a jewish army captain, alfred dreyfus, and appeared to be proof of espionage on behalf of germany. How to understand the dreyfus affair by robert gildea.
An officer and a spy, a thrilling novelization of the. Robert harriss novel about dreyfus affair named thriller of. A compelling, new and highly accessible account of one of the most highprofile and influential miscarriages of justice in french history. Politics, emotion, and the scandal of the century by oxford historian ruth harris, who has unearthed a mass of new documentation, is. Includes some photographs and reproductions from the periods. A complete bibliography of the affair published in 1970 listed 551 titles1 and many more have been published since then. Jun 26, 2011 let us begin with books about the dreyfus affair named for its illfated victim, captain alfred dreyfus. The history and legacy of frances most notorious antisemitic political scandal by charles river editors and gregory t. The dreyfus affair led directly to the separation of church and. Zolas writings document the dreyfus affair, its political and cultural implications of fanaticism and prejudice, and the novelists human rights defenses which led to his own trial, imprisonment, and year long exile in england. Did roman polanski make the dreyfus affair about him. The dreyfus affair pops up time and again when reading french books from the end of the nineteenth century.
At the core of the cause celebre, which went on for 12. She picks the best books on a golden period in france before the outbreak of world war i. Robert harriss novel about dreyfus affair named thriller. Alain pages is a leading dreyfus scholar and editor of the french edition of zolas writings on the dreyfus affair. This documentary history is designed to introduce the broad outlines and significant legacies of the dreyfus affair, from the captain s arrest. An officer and a spy by robert harris, for the soul of france. In addition to an historical overview, other essays examine the french political context before dreyfus, the issue of antisemitism in the affair, the socialists position, and how historical perceptions of the.
The new york public library has digitized 14 illustrations related to the dreyfus affair. She unravels decisions made in the swirl of experience, fraught with contradiction, accident, and incoherence and governed by emotion as much as. The dreyfus affair a national scandal by schecter betty. Oct 27, 2014 robert harriss novel about the dreyfus affair an officer and a spy has been named the best thriller of the year by the crime writers association harriss book, which won him the. On january 1898 zola touched off a new dimension in the dreyfus affair, which became known simply as the affair. Art, truth, and justice by kleeblatt and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Dreyfus affair, political crisis, beginning in 1894 and continuing through 1906, in france during the third republic. Oct 11, 1991 dreyfus a family affair, 17891945 by michael burns 576 pages. Politics, emotion, and the scandal of the century by oxford historian ruth harris, who has unearthed a mass of new documentation, is an extraordinary study of the affair as a tragic drama that swept up a man, his family and. Hyman for over a century the dreyfus affair has attracted the attention of politicians, polemicists and historians.
Feb 14, 2012 the dreyfus affair by piers paul read offers a novelists take on a defining drama of turnofthecentury france image 1 of 2 the last known picture of captain alfred dreyfus, taken in the 1930s. Dreyfus affair definition, summary, history, significance. The dreyfus affair never goes away, and is the subject of a brave new book by the novelist and lawyer louis begley, why the dreyfus affair matters yale. Let us begin with books about the dreyfus affair named for its illfated victim, captain alfred dreyfus.
Numerous books have been written about the affair in which french army officer alfred dreyfus was wrongfully accused of treason, and this volume by piers paul read, simply titled the dreyfus affair, is a solid recollection of the case that garnered worldwide attention in the 1890s. But though innocent, according to read, a british writer known for catholicthemed novels who sees the dreyfus affair as a defining moment in the. Jul 25, 2010 in the splendidly terse why the dreyfus affair matters 2009, louis begley brought a lawyernovelists insight to untangling the deceptions through which dreyfus was framed, and he. The story of the most infamous miscarriage of justice in french history. During the time that wilde and gauss were in paris, the dreyfus affair, or laffaire dreyfus, was the talk of europe. Roth, the san francisco chronicle ruth harriss meticulous, assured, and engrossing account of the dreyfus affair calls to mind none of the many books on the subject harris has produced a history sensitive. The dreyfus affair the scandal that tore france in two book. However, dreyfus also had enemies, especially within the impoverished aristocracy, who disliked him because. But at the same time, it provides a chilling example of what can happen when justice and the safeguards of proper legal procedure are sacrificed to some presumed honor and security. Feb 02, 2012 numerous books have been written about the affair in which french army officer alfred dreyfus was wrongfully accused of treason, and this volume by piers paul read, simply titled the dreyfus affair, is a solid recollection of the case that garnered worldwide attention in the 1890s. Ive recently been reading prousts in search of lost time in which the characters keep discussing the affair and anyone who has read anything about zola will realise that zola played a significant part in the affair. The editor supplies notes, a chronology, and biographies of the key players in the dreyfus affair. They shed brilliant new light on the official mind of france and were crucial in reversing public opinion, securing a retrial, and ensuring dreyfuss rehabilitation.
Reserved yet intelligent and ambitious, dreyfus had everything. Many books have been written about the miscarriage of justice in france in 1894 which led to the dreyfus affair. The typical modern media melodrama involves the courtroom. There have been many books about the dreyfus affair, but jeandenis bredins book is one of.
You can watch melies complete dreyfus film at the top of the post. The affair, as it is known in french, has come to symbolise modern injustice in the francophone world, and it remains one of the most notable examples of a complex miscarriage of justice and antisemitism. This vivid account of the dreyfus affair often reads like a cloakanddagger mystery, for the bare facts of dreyfus s case seem almost too melodramatic to be true. Jun 25, 2010 today the dreyfus affair is still constantly evoked. Ray celestin took the cwa john creasey new blood dagger for his. Why the dreyfus affair matters yale university press. The dreyfus affair and the crisis of french manhood the johns hopkins university studies in historical. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The story of the affair has been told hundreds of times, and the. The dreyfus affair, as it has come to be known, was the most famous court case of the belle epoque. The controversy centered on the question of the guilt or innocence of army captain alfred dreyfus, who had been convicted of treason for. Robert harriss novel about the dreyfus affair an officer and a spy has been.