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The Man on Devil's Island: Alfred Dreyfus and the Affair that Divided France (Allen Lane History) by Ruth Harris (2010-06-03) Hardcover

by Ruth Harris (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 31 ratings
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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 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.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01K96A9HS
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 31 ratings

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Ruth Harris

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
31 global ratings

Top review from the United States

Henry on Hillside
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Work of History
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2013
I'm a little bit surprised that I'm the first to review this book. It's been out for several years now. I would have thought it would have attracted a substantial readership - it's an excellent, highly-readable account of one of the most titanic events in the history of modern Europe. The Dreyfus Affair ripped apart France for years. Encased within the story are some of the great themes of history including the ability of power to corrupt men, the willingness of governments to lie, the corrosive effects of secrets, the pride of nationalism, the dangers of nationalism that gets humiliated, and the eagerness of militaries to protect themselves, even at the expense of truth. I would add one more great theme - the importance of having brave writers who are free to stand up alone and say, "This is the truth." Thank God for Emile Zola. Thank God for the Dreyfus Affair, because maybe, just maybe, we can learn something from it. (I know, not very likely.)
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Top reviews from other countries

Georocks22
5.0 out of 5 stars On time and as advertised.
Reviewed in Canada on December 28, 2016
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A great story
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S. J. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book but not a straightforward historical narrative.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2014
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This is a serious historical study of the wider causes and consequences of 'The Affair' rather than a simple narrative account. (I came to this after Robert Harris's 'An Officer and a Spy' and found it very useful to have a more straightforward account of the events fresh in my mind.) As such Harris (Ruth) is primarily interested in the complex mix of historical, social and political factors which combined to make this miscarriage of justice an open sore for French society for almost 2 decades, polarising opinion and leading at times to fighting in the streets and assassination attempts: it became emblematic of the many fissures, conflicts and anxieties within French society. She shows how the case was fuelled by profound antagonisms between republicanism and monarchism, secularism and Catholicism, socialism/internationalism and nationalism/conservatism, intellectualism and its opposites, and so on. All this with a liberal sprinkling of varying degrees of anti-semitism. The central importance of the loss of Alsace-Lorraine in the humiliation of the Franco-Prussian War, taking with it national self esteem and raising Prussia as a serious threat, is also a major factor.

These are complex themes, particularly when affiliations did not always follow what one might call 'party lines'. She writes superbly about many of the key players as individuals but often also as figures who are representative of some of these central 'internal' conflicts. This complexity is reflected in the structure of the book, which adopts a thematic approach, with chapters devoted to topics like 'Anti-intellectuals: Catholics and the Occult'; 'Dreyfusards and the Judaeo-Christian Tradition'. As might be imagined, this is not always an easy read, not always, though surprisingly often, a 'page turner', but it is immensely stimulating and interesting, not least in its ending which offers a probing analysis of the longer term consequences.

Recommended.
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Kiri
4.0 out of 5 stars A clear and fascinating account of the Dreyfus affair.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2021
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The Dreyfus affair was the biggest political scandal at the start of the 20th century.. It split France (and further afield) into two camps,, the Dreyfusards and the anti-Dreyfusards,) Much like today, between Populists and Liberals. I read about this in Bobert Harris's novel "An Oficer and a Spy". I wanted to learn the real truth. This book gives a clear and detailed account. My only problem was the small print.
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boogalouie
3.0 out of 5 stars The factual edition…
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2022
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A great follow up to the Dreyfus affair described in Robert Harris’ An Officer And A Spy.
This is a formal and factual account of life on Devil’s Island. Well referenced, carefully constructed. Rather a reference that a deep read.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Unconventional analysis
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is a very thorough study of the various factions operating in favour of and against Dreyfus. It reveals, for the first time to my knowledge, the 'contradictory' stances of small factions within each camp. Harris's theses are well documented and substantiated. The style, though essentially academic, is always accessible.
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