Alfred Dreyfus

On January 5, 1895, Captain Alfred Dreyfus faced a tumultuous crowd screaming "Death to Judas!" Maurice Samuels, in his book, offers a fresh perspective on Dreyfus, delving into the man central to the scandal. The narrative traces Dreyfus's early life in Paris, his promising military career, the unjust accusation leading to his imprisonment on Devil's Island, the divisive fight for his innocence in France, and his subsequent life in obscurity post-World War I.

Samuels draws from a newly available archive, comprising over three thousand documents and objects from the Dreyfus family. In contrast to prevailing historical views, Samuels contends that Dreyfus wasn't an "assimilated" Jew. Instead, he represents a novel Jewish identity born out of the French Revolution, which granted Jews full legal equality, a crucial departure from prior European norms. The book explores Dreyfus's intricate relationship with Judaism and antisemitism throughout his lifea narrative that, amid the current surge in global antisemitism, resonates profoundly. Furthermore, it illustrates the far-reaching impact of the Dreyfus Affair on Jewish communities worldwide.

Dettagli