There have been many books about the dreyfus affair, but jeandenis bredins book is one of. Jun 25, 2010 today the dreyfus affair is still constantly evoked. 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. However, dreyfus also had enemies, especially within the impoverished aristocracy, who disliked him because. 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.
The belle epoque in france saw the lows of the dreyfus affair but also sowed the. Alain pages is a leading dreyfus scholar and editor of the french edition of zolas writings on the dreyfus affair. 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. The story of the affair has been told hundreds of times, and 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 dreyfus affair a national scandal by schecter betty. 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. 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. 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.
Captain alfred dreyfus was a rising star in the french artillery command. 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. Let us begin with books about the dreyfus affair named for its illfated victim, captain alfred dreyfus. Oct 11, 1991 dreyfus a family affair, 17891945 by michael burns 576 pages. Feb 01, 2012 the dreyfus affair pops up time and again when reading french books from the end of the nineteenth century. 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. Robert harriss novel about dreyfus affair named thriller. 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. The besthitting, bestfielding young shortstop in america, randy dreyfus is his countrys hero, but when his affair with second baseman d. The dreyfus affair is the backdrop of an officer and a spy, roman polanskis new thriller.
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. 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 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. 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. 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. He develops a new colour aesthetic in fauvism which is the french word for. The dreyfus affair was a political scandal that divided the third french republic from 1894. 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.
With jean dujardin, louis garrel, emmanuelle seigner, gregory gadebois. This balanced and thoughtful account of dreyfus is a compelling reminder of the complexity and pathos of the past. You can watch melies complete dreyfus film at the top of the post. The history and legacy of frances most notorious antisemitic political scandal by charles river editors and gregory t. 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. 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. Hyman for over a century the dreyfus affair has attracted the attention of politicians, polemicists and historians. The dreyfus affair jaccuse and other writings book. Robert harriss novel about dreyfus affair named thriller of the year.
Culture wars in the age of dreyfus by frederick brown, dr. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Includes some photographs and reproductions from the periods. 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 pops up time and again when reading french books from the end of the nineteenth century. This documentary history is designed to introduce the broad outlines and significant legacies of the dreyfus affair, from the captain s arrest. Politics, emotion, and the scandal of the century by oxford historian ruth harris, who has unearthed a mass of new documentation, is. Why the dreyfus affair matters why x matters series. 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. The story of the most infamous miscarriage of justice in french history.
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. How to understand the dreyfus affair by robert gildea. The controversy centered on the question of the guilt or innocence of army captain alfred dreyfus, who had been convicted of treason for. She picks the best books on a golden period in france before the outbreak of world war i. 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. During the time that wilde and gauss were in paris, the dreyfus affair, or laffaire dreyfus, was the talk of europe. A complete bibliography of the affair published in 1970 listed 551 titles1 and many more have been published since then. The dreyfus affair, in some ways the first of those dramas, held france spellbound. 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.
Eleanor levieux is an editor and translator who was born in the united states and has lived in france since 1959. On january 1898 zola touched off a new dimension in the dreyfus affair, which became known simply as the affair. The dreyfus affair is distinguished by the large number of books published on this subject. Robert harriss novel about dreyfus affair named thriller of. Leslie derfler, the foremost american authority on the dreyfus affair, puts the affair in historical and social context for the reader. 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. An officer and a spy by robert harris, for the soul of france. A compelling, new and highly accessible account of one of the most highprofile and influential miscarriages of justice in french history. The typical modern media melodrama involves the courtroom. Reserved yet intelligent and ambitious, dreyfus had everything. 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.
An officer and a spy, a thrilling novelization of the. The unjust conviction of french jewish captain alfred dreyfus on charges of treason started the dreyfus affair, a major event in european antisemitism. 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 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. Why the dreyfus affair matters why x matters series paperback. Ray celestin took the cwa john creasey new blood dagger for his. 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. 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. Dreyfus a family affair, 17891945 by michael burns 576 pages. Dreyfus was subsequently courtmartialed and imprisoned on devils island, and the efforts of his family to have him released. 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. 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.
At the core of the cause celebre, which went on for 12. 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. 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. Today the dreyfus affair is still constantly evoked. Art, truth, and justice by kleeblatt and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Did roman polanski make the dreyfus affair about him. Why the dreyfus affair matters yale university press. The dreyfus affair and the crisis of french manhood the johns hopkins university studies in historical. 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. Many books have been written about the miscarriage of justice in france in 1894 which led to the dreyfus affair. Dreyfus affair definition, summary, history, significance. But though innocent, according to read, a british writer known for catholicthemed novels who sees the dreyfus affair as a defining moment in the.
Jun 26, 2011 let us begin with books about the dreyfus affair named for its illfated victim, captain alfred dreyfus. Zolas texts constitute a unique and outstandingly eloquent primary source that is essential for a complete understanding of the dreyfus affair. In 1894, french captain alfred dreyfus is wrongfully convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment at devils island. The dreyfus affair the scandal that tore france in two book.
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. List of books and articles about alfred dreyfus online. In fact, as noted by adam gopnik in a 2009 new yorker article on the dreyfus affair. Robert harriss novel about the dreyfus affair an officer and a spy has been. Dreyfus affair, political crisis, beginning in 1894 and continuing through 1906, in france during the third republic.
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. However, dreyfus also had enemies, especially within the impoverished aristocracy, who disliked him because he was. The dreyfus affair book san francisco public library. I knew about the dreyfus affair on a very high level, but this gave me a completely new look at the events. 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. In 1894, following the francoprussian war, french army captain alfred. Alfred dreyfus 18591935, a french artillery officer and graduate of the french military academy. The dreyfus affair, as it has come to be known, was the most famous court case of the belle epoque. Included in this gallery are court scenes during the trial, the court martial, and reading of the verdict at rennes.
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