Five Years of My Life 1894-1899

MP3 Audio CD. The Dreyfus affair was one of the more famous cases associated with the French military in the late 19th century. Alfred Dreyfus, a French artillery officer of Jewish descent, was accused of high treason and tried in a secret court martial after forged evidence was presented that pointed to his guilt for disclosing state secrets to officials in the German embassy.

Five Years of My Life is a detailed and strongly empathetic memoir outlining Dreyfus? imprisonment on Devil?s Island, a former leper colony in the French Guyana. The book contains explicit descriptions of Dreyfus? imprisonment, along with his own thoughts about the actions that have led to his trial and imprisonment, as well as accounts of the strength of his supporters in their resolve to clear his name.

High treason was the single most debilitating, shameful and overall condemning charge that could be brought to a member of the French army. As a result, Dreyfus? imprisonment on Devil?s Island was nothing short of a nightmare. However, even while kept in conditions designed to test and break his character, as well as subjected to treatment that only the harshest of criminals were made to endure.

Despite all of his hardships, Dreyfus was kept alive by his conviction and the certainty of his innocence. The support of his wife, shown through her many passionate letters in which she vows that she will do all she can to help clear her name, are more than inspiring. Also, the psychological aspect of Dreyfus? reaction to his treatment and imprisonment is a clear indication of his strength of character.

Although he was offered a pardon due to popular support and he was given partial freedom ? remaining under house arrest for another two years ? it was only in 1906 that he was completely reinstated and allowed to regain his place in the French military, also being promoted to the rank of Major.