France and the Dreyfus Affair: A Documentary History

by Michael Burns

The unjust conviction of French Jewish Captain Alfred Dreyfus on charges of treason started the Dreyfus affair, a major event in European anti-Semitism. “This documentary history is designed to introduce the broad outlines and significant legacies of the Dreyfus affair, from the captain’s arrest in 1894 to the 1998 centennial of J’Accuse, Émile Zola’s scathing indictment of the French military... This volume, fashioned for a weeklong assignment in a college course, reproduces the affair’s most celebrated texts, as well as less familiar, but no less telling, documents. Presented as a chronological narrative, it charts Captain Dreyfus’s case as it unfolded in time, and summarizes the major issues and debates that have survived for the past century.” (From the preface by Michael Burns)“A fresh and compelling study of the turn of the century affair in a concise and readable book... A fine compilation of well-chosen documents and lucid analysis... Beyond making this frequently told tale come to life once again (I literally could not put the book down), Burns has given it historical and cultural context.” — Donna F. Ryan, Gallaudet University“Michael Burns’s volume is imaginatively written, with a keen eye to the drama and desperation of the Dreyfus affair. Its special strength is its learned attention to the political, military, and cultural contexts. Weaving the author’s own commentary together with documents from the period, this volume is a splendid guide to one of the most important historical landmarks of our time.” — Michael R. Marrus, University of Toronto“In both his analysis and his choice of documents, Michael Burns has brilliantly captured all the complexity and the passion of the Dreyfus affair. I salute his achievement.” — Benjamin F. Martin, Louisiana State University

Genres: History, School, Nonfiction, European History, France

Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 1998

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a class on the long nineteenth century, and found it completely enjoyable. I'd known the major points about the Dreyfus Affair (and read J'Accuse), but this short book taught me a lot about the atmosphere surrounding this issue.

The documents help present the Dreyfus Affair in an easily understandable way, while bringing insight into the overarching themes of anti-Semitism and nationalism that were so prevalent during the turn of the nineteenth century and of course, into the twentieth.

I'd definitely recommend this book to people who might find more standard history texts dry.

[Ninja Notion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is critical for an understanding of Anti-Semitism and the concept of otherness. The Dreyfus affair was a political issue that divided the French at the turn of the 20th century and its lessons or justifications for prejudice still reverberate across the subsequent decades. The unapologetic hatred reflected in the archival documents that Burns provides, can still be found in various neo-facist, white nationalist and racist websites and literature available today. After a century, nay centuries, we as a species, still have not been able to find a way to weave the lofty goals of liberty, equality, and fraternity into the fabric of human culture in any meaningful way.

[Louise Leetch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great reference book, especially if you're working on a review of another book on the era. Michael Burns' quick and easy chronicle of the epoch will give you a firm basis for seeking what it is that really made the French the people they are today. He embeds the documents throughout his narrative, a welcome freedom from checking appendices or searching the internet for reprints.

[hoffnarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combines relevant documents and a narrative description of the origins, events and impact of the Dreyfus Affair. The documents are usually kept short and the explanatory sections between are informative.

[Wes Bartlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very academic and intellectual. Interesting from a Historical point of view. It amazes me how men could so strongly support the side against Dreyfus even after it became evident that there had been a cover up and falsification of documents to support the wrong doing. Some even praised the perpetrators of the false documents as "patriotic". The used of documents and written accounts made it an interesting read.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

given the fact that i went into this knowing absolutely nothing about the Dreyfus affair, I found this book to be informative while still being entertaining! It covers a lot of history, and the case itself is a wild (yet unsurprising) representation of state sanctioned corruption and anti-Semitism.

[✨ Helena ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely fascinating...especially with all of the included primary sources.

[Shervin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Full of primary documents. Very informative. Sadly still relatable.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

read for 20th century europe class and wrote an essay on it - pretty interesting

[Polina Dushenkovska · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely entertaining history read, laden with primary sources. Will make you cry and seethe with anger and smile.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for class and I found it a comprehensive description of the events. It was definitely biased towards the Dreyfusards (which I would find hard not to do). The only complaint I have is that, from the description, I didn't realize until I was told in class that some people still claim Dreyfus was guilty. However, I liked the many primary sources referenced.

[Isaac Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mix of primary and secondary sources, short but informative. Very concise.

[Zach Opsitnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well written. A perfect mix of historical documents and a modern interpretation of one of the most scandalous moments in French military history.

[AskHistorians]

A slim little volume with documents relating to the Dreyfus affair (of course), but Burns places them in context.