Dreyfus : Politics, Emotion, and the Scandal of the Century

**The definitive history of the infamous scandal that shook a nation and stunned the world** In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, was wrongfully convicted of being a spy for Germany and imprisoned on Devil's Island. Over the following years, attempts to correct this injustice tore France apart, inflicting wounds on the society which have never fully healed. But how did a fairly obscure miscarriage of justice come to break up families in bitterness, set off anti-Semitic riots across the French empire, and nearly trigger a coup d'état? How did a violently reactionary, obscurantist attitude become so powerful in a country that saw itself as the home of enlightenment? Why did the battle over a junior army officer occupy the foremost writers and philosophers of the age, from Émile Zola to Marcel Proust, Émile Durkheim, and many others? What drove the anti-Dreyfusards to persist in their efforts even after it... The definitive history of the infamous scandal that shook a nation and stunned the worldIn 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, was wrongfully convicted of being a spy for Germany and imprisoned on Devil's Island. Over the following years, attempts to correct this injustice tore France apart, inflicting wounds on the society which have never fully healed. But how did a fairly obscure miscarriage of justice come to break up families in bitterness, set off anti-Semitic riots across the French empire, and nearly trigger a coup d'état? How did a violently reactionary, obscurantist attitude become so powerful in a country that saw itself as the home of enlightenment? Why did the battle over a junior army officer occupy the foremost writers and philosophers of the age, from Émile Zola to Marcel Proust, Émile Durkheim, and many others? What drove the anti-Dreyfusards to persist in their efforts even after it became clear that much of the prosecution's evidence was faked?Drawing upon thousands of previously unread and unconsidered sources, prizewinning historian Ruth Harris goes beyond the conventional narrative of truth loving democrats uniting against proto-fascists. Instead, she offers the first in-depth history of both sides in the Affair, showing how complex interlocking influences—tensions within the military, the clashing demands of justice and nationalism, and a tangled web of friendships and family connections—shaped both the coalition working to free Dreyfus and the formidable alliances seeking to protect the reputation of the army that had convicted him. Sweeping and engaging, Dreyfus offers a new understanding of one of the most contested and significant moments in modern history. The definitive history of the infamous scandal that shook a nation and stunned the world In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, was wrongfully convicted of being a spy for Germany and imprisoned on Devil's Island. Over the following years, attempts to correct this injustice tore France apart, inflicting wounds on the society which have never fully healed. But how did a fairly obscure miscarriage of justice come to break up families in bitterness, set off anti-Semitic riots across the French empire, and nearly trigger a coup d'tat? How did a violently reactionary, obscurantist attitude become so powerful in a country that saw itself as the home of enlightenment? Why did the battle over a junior army officer occupy the foremost writers and philosophers of the age, from mile Zola to Marcel Proust, mile Durkheim, and many others? What drove the anti-Dreyfusards to persist in their efforts even after it became clear that much of the prosecution's evidence was faked? Drawing upon thousands of previously unread and unconsidered sources, prizewinning historian Ruth Harris goes beyond the conventional narrative of truth loving democrats uniting against proto-fascists. Instead, she offers the first in-depth history of both sides in the Affair, showing how complex interlocking influencestensions within the military, the clashing demands of justice and nationalism, and a tangled web of friendships and family connectionsshaped both the coalition working to free Dreyfus and the formidable alliances seeking to protect the reputation of the army that had convicted him. Sweeping and engaging, Dreyfus offers a new understanding of one of the most contested and significant moments in modern history. Prizewinning Historian Ruth Harris Offers The First In-depth History Of Both Sides In The 1894 Dreyfus Affair, Showing How Complex Interlocking Influences--tensions Within The Military, The Clashing Demands Of Justice And Nationalism, And A Tangled Web Of Friendships And Family Connections--shaped Both The Coalition Working To Free Jewish Officer Alfred Dreyfus And The Formidable Alliances Seeking To Protect The Reputation Of The Army That Had Convicted Him. Trial And Errors -- Degradation -- Family And Friends -- France, Germany, And The Jewish Community -- The Alsatian Connection -- Zola -- Intellectuals And Anti-intellectuals -- The Polemic Begins -- Dreyfusard Contradictions -- Anti-intellectuals : Catholics And The Occult -- Dreyfusards And The Judaeo-christian Tradition -- Mother-love And Nationalism : Maurice Barrès And Jules Soury -- Movements And Mystiques -- Anti-dreyfusard Movements And Martyrology -- The Dreyfusard Mystique -- Salonnières Left And Right -- Rightist Illusions -- The End Of The Affair -- Alfred Returns -- The Trial And Its Aftermath -- Aftershocks -- Rehabilitation -- Epilogue -- Chronology -- Dramatis Personae. Ruth Harris. Originally Published In The United Kingdom In 2010 As The Man On Devil's Island By Allen Lane, London--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. pt. 1. Trial and errors Degradation Family and friends France, Germany, and the Jewish community The Alsatian connection Zola pt. 2. Intellectuals and anti-intellectuals The polemic begins Dreyfusard contradictions "Anti-intellectuals" : Catholics and the occult Dreyfusards and the Judaeo-Christian tradition Mother-love and nationalism : Maurice Barrès and Jules Soury pt. 3. Three movements and mystiques Anti-Dreyfusard movements and martyrology The Dreyfusard mystique Salonnières left and right Rightist illusions pt. 4. The end of the affair Alfred returns The trial and its aftermath Aftershocks Rehabilitation Epilogue Chronology Dramatis personae. Details the events surrounding the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, for spying on Germany.