Name: The Dreyfus Affair
ISBN: 9781408801390

Piers Paul Read

A compelling, new and highly accessible account of one of the most high-profile and influential miscarriages of justice in French history: The Dreyfus Affair

The Dreyfus Affair

Documents the case of a successful Jewish captain in the French artillery command who was wrongly convicted of high treason, chronicling the twelve-year effort to secure his freedom and describing period anti-Semitism.

The Scandal That Tore France in Two

A very comprehensive account and exploration not only of the Dreyfus Affair but the general history of antisemitism in Europe. (As a side note to the latter, I greatly appreciated that Read took the time to explain why some Jewish families and communities came into wealth and why at a certain period in time Jewish people were more likely to deal with finance. This, more than anything, provides a great, logical argument to conspiracy theories that exist to this day. Though maybe not being a jealous bigot should not need a logical argument anyways).

I would be worried about anyone who can read this book and not draw parallels to the rethoric currently dominating social and political life - both online and in real life. It may no longer (always) be Jewish people, but the language of jealousy and hatred towards the Other, the language of "look-over-there" has not changed more than a century later. Such realisation makes this book fascinating to read not only as an expression of in-depth historical research and analysis but also as  a perspective on the processes underway within our own contemporary society.

A very comprehensive account and exploration not only of the Dreyfus Affair but the general history of antisemitism in Europe. (As a side note to the latter, I greatly appreciated that Read took the time to explain why some Jewish families and communities came into wealth and why at a certain period in time Jewish people were more likely to deal with finance. This, more than anything, provides a great, logical argument to conspiracy theories that exist to this day. Though maybe not being a jealous bigot should not need a logical argument anyways).

I would be worried about anyone who can read this book and not draw parallels to the rethoric currently dominating social and political life - both online and in real life. It may no longer (always) be Jewish people, but the language of jealousy and hatred towards the Other, the language of "look-over-there" has not changed more than a century later. Such realisation makes this book fascinating to read not only as an expression of in-depth historical research and analysis but also as  a perspective on the processes underway within our own contemporary society.

The Dreyfus Affair

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