A Man in Uniform by Kate Taylor
Published: 2010 by Crown Publishers
Source: Borrowed from the library
Francois Dubon is a relatively successful lawyer in Paris, has a wife with the "right" social connections, and a mistress on the side. One day, a woman in widow's mourning comes into his office and, acting on behalf of a "friend", asks him to prove the innocence of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a French military officer (who is Jewish) convicted and imprisoned for espionage.
The Dreyfus Affair, as it is known, is one of the most scandalous events in France's history. Mixing real-life personalities with her characters, Kate Taylor has created a suspenseful novel about events in the latter stage of this period; so that even though we know how events really turn out, the reader isn't always quite sure if Dreyfus will be exonerated.
Once again I loved the descriptions of Paris -- this time of the late 1800s -- and enjoyed learning more about this period of France's history and how it affected life and society during that time.
Recommended.
I know little about the scandal that this book addresses, but it sounds as if there is a lot of meat in this novel to bite into and form an opinion on. I really liked your thoughts on it and I will have to think about seeing if I can get this one for myself!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reviewing this novel. I've read a little bit about the Dreyfus Affair and it's always fascinated me. I had no idea this novel existed. Thanks to you, I'm putting this on my TBR. Thanks !!!!!
ReplyDelete