A brave new book [and] a pointed warning and reminder of how fragile the standards of civilized conduct prove in moments of national panic.”—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker
"Commendable for its narrative clarity."—Thomas Kselman, The Review of Politics
The Review of Politics - Thomas Kselman
I can’t imagine a more unequivocal, socially acute, or legally astute book about the whole hateful Dreyfus Affair than Louis Begley’s “Why Dreyfus Matters.” Add to that the limpidity, the novelist’s eye, the moral passion, and the very considerable narrative gifts that have made Begley’s fiction famous, and you have one of French history’s most tellingly muddled moments, distilled and restored to the drama it in fact was for the country it divided.”—Jane Kramer
Particularly powerful in drawing lessons for American society after September 11.”—Robert Gildea, New York Review of Books
New York Review of Books - Robert Gildea
Selected as a Favorite Book of the Year, The New Yorker
Begley's riveting details and unremitting passion make this book a worthy successor to J'accuse .”—Jewish Book World
"No other work in English on the Dreyfus Affair matches the clarity, the concision, and the passion of this one. A lawyer and novelist, Louis Begley explains the legal technicalities and untangles a byzantine narrative. He shows why this abuse of power should still concern us today."— Robert O. Paxton, author of The Anatomy of Fascism
"...a brilliant work of historical storytelling, reminding us to what extent the drama is in the detail." — The Jewish Chronicle
The Jewish Chronicle - Natasha Lehrer
"Begley['s] prose is as crisp as his resume is distinguished. His book is a fluid, confident survey that clearly sketches the chronology, main players, and historical and literary legacy of the affair while making a provocative comparison to the war on terror."—Michael O'Donnell, Washington Monthly
Washington Monthly - Michael O'Donnell
"Begley's own contribution to dispelling silence and indifference consists in deftly retelling the story of the Dreyfus Affair and explicitly connecting it to our times. . . . The Dreyfus Affair will continue to matter as long as there are those prepared to defend human rights and the dignity of every human life against claims of expediency, reasons of state and official miscarriages of justice."—Ruth Scurr, The New York Times
New York Times - Ruth Scurr
"In thousands of political battles—including those over the Iraq war—Western publics have relived the Dreyfus Affair ever since."—Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs - Andrew Moravcsik
"Concise and precise."—Robert Birnbaum, The Morning News
The Morning News - Robert Birnbaum
Begley provides a lucid and beautifully written account of L’affair Dreyfus from beginning to end.”
—Steven Lubet, The Green Bag
The Green Bag - Steven Lubet
"Louis Begley's Why the Dreyfus Affair Matters skillfully analyzes the forces that . . . divided a nation in a spectacular historical drama."—Sheldon Kirshner, The Canadian Jewish News
The Canadian Jewish News - Sheldon Kirshner
As a primer on the affair, this is a first-rate narrative and a heartfelt plea to modern democracies to stick to their values and defend basic liberties, however threatened they feel.” — The Economist
"...a brilliant work of historical storytelling, reminding us to what extent the drama is in the detail." -- The Jewish Chronicle
--Natasha Lehrer "The Jewish Chronicle" (1/22/2010 12:00:00 AM)"In thousands of political battles--including those over the Iraq war--Western publics have relived the Dreyfus Affair ever since."--Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs
--Andrew Moravcsik "Foreign Affairs" (1/31/2010 12:00:00 AM)New Yorker (one of the "Reviewers' favorites from 2009")-- "New Yorker" (12/14/2009 12:00:00 AM)Journal of International Law and Politics -- "Journal of International Law and Politics"The New York Times --Ruth Scurr "New York Times" (12/13/2009 12:00:00 AM)Washington Monthly --Michael O'Donnell "Washington Monthly"The Review of Politics --Thomas Kselman "The Review of Politics"The Morning News --Robert Birnbaum "The Morning News"Why the Dreyfus Affair Matters skillfully analyzes the forces that . . . divided a nation in a spectacular historical drama."--Sheldon Kirshner, The Canadian Jewish News --Sheldon Kirshner "The Canadian Jewish News"The Anatomy of Fascism -- "Robert Paxton"
"Begley provides a lucid and beautifully written account of L'affair Dreyfus from beginning to end."
--Steven Lubet, The Green Bag
--Steven Lubet "The Green Bag""Begley's riveting details and unremitting passion make this book a worthy successor to J'accuse ."--Jewish Book World
-- "Jewish Book World""I can't imagine a more unequivocal, socially acute, or legally astute book about the whole hateful Dreyfus Affair than Louis Begley's "Why Dreyfus Matters." Add to that the limpidity, the novelist's eye, the moral passion, and the very considerable narrative gifts that have made Begley's fiction famous, and you have one of French history's most tellingly muddled moments, distilled and restored to the drama it in fact was for the country it divided."--Jane Kramer
-- "Jane Kramer""Particularly powerful in drawing lessons for American society after September 11."--Robert Gildea, New York Review of Books
--Robert Gildea "New York Review of Books"The New Yorker -- "New Yorker" (12/14/2009 12:00:00 AM)"A brave new book [and] a pointed warning and reminder of how fragile the standards of civilized conduct prove in moments of national panic."--Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker
--Adam Gopnik "New Yorker" (9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM)The Economist -- "Economist"
As a primer on the affair, this is a first-rate narrative and a heartfelt plea to modern democracies to stick to their values and defend basic liberties, however threatened they feel.” — The Economist
New Yorker (one of the "Reviewers' favorites from 2009")
"...a brilliant work of historical storytelling, reminding us to what extent the drama is in the detail."--The Jewish Chronicle
— Natasha Lehrer
"Begley''s own contribution to dispelling silence and indifference consists in deftly retelling the story of the Dreyfus Affair and explicitly connecting it to our times. . . . The Dreyfus Affair will continue to matter as long as there are those prepared to defend human rights and the dignity of every human life against claims of expediency, reasons of state and official miscarriages of justice."—Ruth Scurr, The New York Times
— Ruth Scurr
"In thousands of political battles—including those over the Iraq war—Western publics have relived the Dreyfus Affair ever since."—Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs
— Andrew Moravcsik
Beyond being a clear introduction to the historical, legal, cultural and literary ramifications of the Dreyfus Affair, this book is a call to arms to contemporary creative writers to address the damage done to "the fabric of American society by the crimes and abuses of the Bush administration committed in the course of its pursuit of the war on terror." Begley eagerly awaits the emergence of America's Zola or Proust, to probe courageously the wounds of deep political division in great fiction. "Once again it is up to us poets to nail the guilty to the eternal pillory," Zola wrote to Dreyfus's wife. Begley argues that that time has come again.
Louis Begley's Why the Dreyfus Affair Matters skillfully analyzes the forces that . . . divided a nation in a spectacular historical drama.—Sheldon Kirshner, The Canadian Jewish News
— Sheldon Kirshner
Commendable for its narrative clarity.—Thomas Kselman, The Review of Politics
— Thomas Kselman
Begley provides a lucid and beautifully written account of L’affair Dreyfus from beginning to end.The Green Bag
— Steven Lubet
Concise and precise.—Robert Birnbaum, The Morning News
— Robert Birnbaum
Particularly powerful in drawing lessons for American society after September 11.—Robert Gildea, New York Review of Books
— Robert Gildea
Louis Begley's Why the Dreyfus Affair Matters is a slim, elegant work—another impressive volume in Yale University Press's 'Why X Matters' series.—Michael O'Donnell, Washington Monthly
— Michael O'Donnell
