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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Excellent read. Incredibly well researched and grips the reader throughout. Would recommend to all.
informative
tense
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Gaslighting
Harris presents a prime example of reality being more interesting than fiction.
This was a fascinating novel that took the story of the notorious Dreyfus Affair and turned it into a novel with a slightly “mystery” feel.
The Dreyfus Affair itself was an appalling miscarriage of justice fueled by rampant anti-semitism in 1890s France. When confronted with a case of discovered espionage, military leaders (as they do often do) chose expediency over fairness and honesty in order to avoid a scandal and “manage” the concerns of the public.
Alfred Dreyfus was an easy scapegoat. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time (although this turned out to be wrong). He was also an annoying Jew that seemed to lord his wealth and culture over his fellow officers.
He is quickly found guilty, on the most superficial and circumstantial evidence and shipped off to Devils Island in the south Atlantic where he spends more than four years in solitary confinement (perhaps the most costly case of anti-semitism ever recorded).
Georges Picquart is the unwitting hero. Not particularly ambitious, not particularly pro or anti Jew, he IS pro truth. He starts to see inconsistencies in the evidence when he is appointed head of the military intelligence. Then he finds the person is is obviously the spy.
Of course, his superiors would rather stick with Dreyfus rather than admit they were wrong. And so the story plays out.....
The Dreyfus Affair itself was an appalling miscarriage of justice fueled by rampant anti-semitism in 1890s France. When confronted with a case of discovered espionage, military leaders (as they do often do) chose expediency over fairness and honesty in order to avoid a scandal and “manage” the concerns of the public.
Alfred Dreyfus was an easy scapegoat. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time (although this turned out to be wrong). He was also an annoying Jew that seemed to lord his wealth and culture over his fellow officers.
He is quickly found guilty, on the most superficial and circumstantial evidence and shipped off to Devils Island in the south Atlantic where he spends more than four years in solitary confinement (perhaps the most costly case of anti-semitism ever recorded).
Georges Picquart is the unwitting hero. Not particularly ambitious, not particularly pro or anti Jew, he IS pro truth. He starts to see inconsistencies in the evidence when he is appointed head of the military intelligence. Then he finds the person is is obviously the spy.
Of course, his superiors would rather stick with Dreyfus rather than admit they were wrong. And so the story plays out.....
Fascinerend verhaal over de Dreyfusaffaire begin 1900 in Frankrijk. Antisemitisme tiert welig en de spion moet wel een Jood zijn. Toch? Leuk om te lezen over de rol van Zola en Clemenceau.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes