The trial of Emile Zola

the long version

A first-hand account of the Dreyfus Affair, one of the most important events in French history, and details the conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew, for supposed military espionage. Zola's open letter to President Félix Faure accusing the military of a conspiracy to condemn an innocent man led to his own trial for libel. Although Zola and his editor were found guilty, the trial spelled the beginning of the end for the anti-Semitic movement, as public access to information revealed the truth about the Dreyfus trial and ultimately led to Dreyfus's release and reinstatement. The Dreyfus Affair is a reminder of the importance of public access to information and the danger of its restriction.