An Officer and a Spy

 

An Officer and a Spy – by Robert Harris

This is one of those novels that, I’m sure, is not at all uncommon yet I can’t really recall ever reading one like it. This is a “novel”, yet it’s largely based on a true story. Now, I’ve read plenty of fiction where historical events serve somewhat as a background for the action, but this one seems to be entirely about a true event of history. The author states this in the book’s forward, and does confess that he took some liberties with the narrative since he obviously couldn’t know everything that actually happened well over 100 years ago.

This is the story of the infamous Dreyfus Affair that plagued France in the 1890s.  Immediate background: France was still reeling after a humiliating defeat from neighboring Germany during the 1870 Franco-Prussian War.  The two nations were still very much adversaries.  It was revealed that someone in the French army was “spying” on his home country and passing secrets to Germany.  All fingers pointed to Captain Alfred Dreyfus. Why? He was Jewish. That was about it.  Sadly, Jews have been historically hated with a passion in Europe, and no one seemed to mind when Dreyfus was accused and banished to a remote island as a prisoner. 

Enter Georges Picquart, the newly head of counter-espionage for France. Picquart was one of those strange fellows who believed that for an individual to be guilty of something, there needs to be some sort of proof. Essentially there was no proof against Dreyfus.  All it took was for some to point the finger at a Jew, and rumors and innuendo began to breed like rabbits.  It doesn’t help Picquart at all when he starts making waves. Doesn’t he know that he’s supposed to just stay silent on such matters? Besides, who really cares if a Jew is wrongly imprisoned and has to spend his entire life away from his young family?   Peer pressure can really do ugly things to people in power. Just ask all those Republicans in congress 125 years later who were basically forced to stand behind the satanic Donald Trump or face political peril.

So this book details the story of what eventually happens when enough voices finally are able to claw out of the gutter and begin to emulate some sort of reason and ethical behavior.  I enjoyed reading the book, but I think the main reason for my enjoyment is knowing that such an event actually happened. Had this book been pure fiction, I’m not 100% sure I would have enjoyed it quite as much. I guess real life is never as exciting as fiction.

One of the best things about this book was the author’s uncannily description of the bleak country of France during this period. Although the war (that had passed) isn’t really discussed, it literally almost starved France to death, and the post-war years weren’t exactly a walk in the park.  We’re exposed to much of this bleakness throughout the book and it does help set the tone for the story. For better or worse, I felt as if I were actually walking along the disgusting urine-stained Parisian streets.

I’ve read a few books by Robert Harris, and this was the first of this kind by him. In fact, his brilliant debut “Fatherland” seemed to have almost the exact opposite scenario for a story.  That book is told as if the Germans won World War II and how life in the 1960s was for Hitler’s 1000-year Reich.  Harris might not ever be considered in the top of his class as novel writings go, but he is better than most; especially if you like some history woven into your novels.  It’s always nice to learn things when reading, even if you’re reading a work of fiction.