The Prisoner and the Writer

In 1895, Captain Alfred Dreyfus spends his days imprisoned on an isolated island off the coast of South America. He has been court-martialled, convicted of treason, and sentenced to a life in exile. Meanwhile, French novelist Emile Zola contemplates his new novel and hears Dreyfus’s story, gradually becoming convinced of his innocence. Eventually Zola pens a letter published on the front page of a Paris daily, L’Aurore—headlined J’Accuse…!—which eventually led to the Dreyfus case being reopened and Zola sued for libel.

Camlot’s brief, poetic text emphasizes the horrible conditions under which Dreyfus was imprisoned, the rampant anti-Semitism prevalent in France, and the personal consequences Zola suffered for his defense of Dreyfus. The narrative effectively shifts back and forth between Dreyfus and Zola’s perspectives. Casson’s pastel illustrations are well-suited to the text. They emphasize setting details and feature numerous views of the characters that emphasize their strongly felt emotions. Unfortunately, this title’s lyrical language and pitch-perfect tone don’t make up for the lack of specifics and background information needed to ensure that the intended audience understands this story. Nowhere does Camlot explain the charges against Dreyfus, the role of the Catholic Church and the media in promoting anti-Semitism, or the reasons Zola was prosecuted and exiled after expressing his views. Also missing is mention of the other investigators who worked to free Dreyfus. An appended author’s note connects anti-Semitism with racism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination and discusses online bias and “fake” news.