The Dreyfus Affair – fails to meet the ‘Robert Harris’ level
This is a historical fiction based on the Dreyfus Affair in
France between 1880 and 1910, where an army officer (a rich Jew) was falsely
convicted of treason by conniving army leadership and his struggle to prove his
innocence. The story is told in first person by another army officer, the
‘hero’ who against tremendous odds and suffering major hardships finally brings
out the real story that helps to get Dreyfus free.
Set in an interesting period of France’s history and in the
background of a growing ant-Semitism in Europe, Robert Harris brings out in
exquisite detail the life in French society and the corruption in the army
leadership. But unlike in the authors
earlier bestsellers like Pompeii or Ghost Writer the suspense and twists are
missing. So after the initial enthusiasm of getting my hands on to a Robert
Harris Novel, I found my interest level slipping. I was at least hoping for a major climax at the
end, which failed to materialize.
The book is definitely a good read – especially for those
interested in hearing this version of the Dreyfus affair. But as a great admirer of Robert Harris works
(I have read all his books till date), my verdict is that this one fails to
meet the high bar that he has set.
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