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    An Officer and a Spy: A novel
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    An Officer and a Spy: A novel
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    An Officer and a Spy: A novel
    Audiobook16 hours

    An Officer and a Spy: A novel

    Written by Robert Harris

    Narrated by David Rintoul

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Robert Harris returns to the thrilling historical fiction he has so brilliantly made his own. This is the story of the infamous Dreyfus affair told as a chillingly dark, hard-edged novel of conspiracy and espionage.

    Paris in 1895. Alfred Dreyfus, a young Jewish officer, has just been convicted of treason, sentenced to life imprisonment at Devil's Island, and stripped of his rank in front of a baying crowd of twenty-thousand. Among the witnesses to his humiliation is Georges Picquart, the ambitious, intellectual, recently promoted head of the counterespionage agency that "proved" Dreyfus had passed secrets to the Germans. At first, Picquart firmly believes in Dreyfus's guilt. But it is not long after Dreyfus is delivered to his desolate prison that Picquart stumbles on information that leads him to suspect that there is still a spy at large in the French military. As evidence of the most malignant deceit mounts and spirals inexorably toward the uppermost levels of government, Picquart is compelled to question not only the case against Dreyfus but also his most deeply held beliefs about his country, and about himself.

    Bringing to life the scandal that mesmerized the world at the turn of the twentieth century, Robert Harris tells a tale of uncanny timeliness--a witch hunt, secret tribunals, out-of-control intelligence agencies, the fate of a whistle-blower--richly dramatized with the singular storytelling mastery that has marked all of his internationally best-selling novels.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJan 28, 2014
    ISBN9780804165686
    Unavailable
    An Officer and a Spy: A novel
    Author

    Robert Harris

    Robert Harris is the author of Pompeii, Enigma, and Fatherland. He has been a television correspondent with the BBC and a newspaper columnist for the London Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. His novels have sold more than ten million copies and been translated into thirty languages. He lives in Berkshire, England, with his wife and four children.

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    Reviews for An Officer and a Spy

    4/5

    478 ratings52 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Excellent. A good read, and well researched. Puts new light on this famous case of anti-semitism in French military history.
    • 5/5
      This is the story of the infamous Dreyfus affair case about conspiracy and espionage in Paris in 1895. I love Robert Harris' writing as he allows you to relive real history and you feel every moment of the book along with the characters within the story. This is tale of ambition, treachery, betrayal, honor and sorrow. A lesson in how easy people can be swayed by prejudice and politics to perpetrate grave injustices. The characters are extremely well described and historical and allow you to learn about the French Society of those times with its deep political divisions and prejudices. I found this book to be an eye opener of that part of history with a nice insight of the spy technology used in those days. I plan on reading more of Robert Harris books as he is an excellent writer and storyteller. I would highly recommend this book to those who love historical accounts of true events.
    • 4/5
      AN OFFICER AND A SPY is historical fiction about the "Dreyfus affair," which is the tragedy that occurred in France during the 1890s when a man in the French army was falsely convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment at Devils Island. The story is told in first person by the officer, Georges Picquart, who discovered the error and tried to convince his superiors that Alfred Dreyfus was innocent.After the original trial, Picquart had access to the documents that convicted Dreyfus. Picquart found in the secret files forgeries and handwriting that matched another suspect's. But the more he made his superiors aware of this, the worse they treated him.This is, essentially, what Part 1 of AN OFFICER AND A SPY is about. Then Part 2 is unputdownable as Dreyfus is retried and Picquart strives to prove his own innocence and re-enter the army.Just don't forget that, although this book is fiction, it is based on facts. And facts are not always pleasant. One gross injustice is piled upon another and another and another. That can make it hard to get through some of Part 1. But Part 2 is engrossing.Part 1 of AN OFFICER AND A SPY gets tedious so is easily put down. I would give it three stars. But Part 2 is definitely worth five stars, making this a four-star book.
    • 5/5
      The world famous story of the incredible injustice done to army captain Alfred Dreyfus, who got caught up in an espionage trial and was found guilty by a military court, although convincing proof was lacking. This time related in the form of a novel from the viewpoint of colonl Picquart, the one decisive figure in the whole affair. A very exciting read, which still makes you mad about the injustice done. A must read for everyone who wants to understand how a narrow minded view in a crime case develops and is maintained throughout, even at the cost of the truth.
    • 4/5
      A fascinating story, well told with great characters and a page-turning plot. Who could ask for more?
    • 5/5
      This is absolutely terrific - easily one Harris' best books outwith the Cicero trilogy.It's the story of the continuing investigation into German espionage against France in the dying days of the 19th century, after Alfred Dreyfus has been convicted and send to Devil's Island. Even though this is a true story and a brief glance at a history webpage will inform readers of the outcome, the novel remains gripping and tense throughout.The themes of paranoia, betrayal and anti-Semitism remain as important today as they were in 1895.Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      The Dreyfus Affair in France at the turn of the 20th century was a defining moment for the nation and enthralled the whole of western civilisation. In this novelisation we see history unfolding through the character of Georges Picquart. Georges is a colonel given charge of the Statistical Section - the Army's secret spy service - and comes to understand that Dreyfus has been wrongly convicted through the prejudice and incompetence of the Army General Staff. The novel follows Georges' attempts to uncover the truth, exonerate Dreyfus and bring the real traitor to justice, all the while fighting the indifference and even hostility of an Army bureaucracy that wants to let the matter die.Harris paints a vivid picture of fin-de-siecle Paris and middle class customs and mores. He gives a detailed look at how internal spying and security operations actually worked at this time. Even though the chronology, facts and eventual outcome are known, this book is full of suspense and intrigue, drawing this reader in to want to read just a few pages more every time I picked it up.
    • 4/5
      Historical fiction, but appears to match reality in all respects except fill in details. The writing turns a judicial injustice into a fast moving and compelling story.
    • 5/5
      "An Officer and A Spy," by Robert Harris, begins in the 18th Century with the court martial and punishment of Alfred Dreyfus, concluding in the 19th Century. Following Dreyfus' conviction and transport to Devil's Island, Colonel Georges Picquart was promoted and transfered to the secretive and well hidden counterespionage section of the French military, where he stumbles upon information hidden from the public which will challenge Picquart's faith in France's military leadership. Picquart puts his career and life on the line in the pursuit of justice in this well written historical novel.
    • 3/5
      I didn't care for this book as much as I did his other works, perhaps because I was a little more familiar with the Dreyfus case than, for example, Cicero. Still, interesting.
    • 3/5
      If the Dreyfus case had a script then “An officer and a spy” would surely be that document. Once again Robert Harris selects a time of extreme importance in history and by careful research and a cast of shadowy characters produces a work of some importance. It is a time of great social upheaval and suspicion amongst the super powers namely France, Germany, and Russia. Alfred Dreyfus was falsely accused and convicted of passing military secrets to the Germans. He was sentenced to life behind bars on Devils Island. This was a gross injustice carried out with ruthless efficiency by the army. When it became known that it was not Dreyfus but Major Charles Esterhazy who was the perpetrator the army, rather than lose face, did nothing to reverse the situation preferring to let Dreyfus remain in gaol.An officer and a spy carefully records this historical drama from Alfred Dreyfus’s incarceration and the many attempts by Georges Piquart to have him released and all charges against him dropped.
    • 4/5
      Harris has again used much meticulous research to create a historical novel that gives the reader a riveting read as well as the spy case that divided France at the end of the 19th Century and was not finally cleared up until 1906. The novel's protagonist is Colonel George Picquart, Chief of the Statistical Section of the French Army. Initially he believed that Dreyfus was guilty but as he noticed discrepancies in some of the documents and timelines claimed by Dreyfus' accusers, he voiced his concerns to his superiors with the result that he was court-martialed. With the aid of the press and prominent Frenchmen, Dreyfus and Picquart are eventually exonerated.Harris unwinds the complicated story of probably the most famous prisoner on Devil's Island and the conspiracy of the leadership of the French Army to keep him there. As an aside, the island prison was reopened just for Dreyfus in 1895 and he was guarded by 12 guards who shackled him every night.
    • 5/5
      Told from the point of view of Georges Picquart, head of counter-espionage, as he witnesses Dreyfus’s public humiliation then slowly discovers the man is not the spy & worse, that the military heads will go to any lengths to suppress the truth including attempts to ruin his own reputation.I do not know the historical facts, so have no idea how ‘true’ Harris’s dramatisation is. But Harris reimagines the case bringing it immediately to life, and Picquart’s character as given seems absolutely believable as he takes up his new position & is met with increasing resistance. The slow reveals & ‘civilised’ careful conversations of the characters reminded me of Le Carre’s Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy. Brings this infamous historical miscarriage of justice to life. And, with the current prevalence of made-up news, a still-relevant cautionary tale.
    • 3/5
      Kind of a historical fiction, kind of a mystery. Pretty slow but still pretty interesting. Not a favorite, but I'm glad I read it.
    • 5/5
      Superb! And beautifully narrated - as always - by David Rintoul.
    • 4/5
      First class. I don't generally read historical novels but this is expertly written and possesses a "can't put it down" quality. Good to encounter a very convincing and skilled writer.
    • 4/5
      Story of the unjust imprisonment of Alfred Dreyfus who was wrongly accused of trading secret documents. An officer of the spy network knows he is innocent, but the generals have gone too far and admitting a mistake is something they won’t do. (Based on the true story of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew.)
    • 4/5
      Very good writing. Completely engaged right away. (loved Harris' Fatherland.) Incredible story, not just of Dreyfus, but of Picquart.
    • 5/5
      Quite a page-Turner. I have always been fascinated by the Dreyfus Affair and it solidified my political views. This novelization of the affair is excellent.
    • 5/5
      As AN OFFICER AND A SPY opens, a French Army captain is being stripped of his rank and position and publicly degraded after being charged with spying He is sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil’s Island, an isolated location off the coast of South America, several thousand kilometers from France. While there, he will be under constant guard. He writes to his wife, “The guards are forbidden to speak to me. Days pass without a word. My isolation is so complete that it often seems to me that I have been buried alive.” The Minister of War states: “The only pity is that the traitor will continue to remain alive. I say this more for his sake than anyone else’s. What kind of life is left to him? It would be kinder to finish him off. That’s why I wanted the Chamber of Deputies to restore the death penalty for treason.”Soon, however, Chief of the Statistical Section of the French military, who was involved in collecting information for the trial, begins to question whether the man, who consistently insisted he was innocent and proclaimed his devotion to France and the Army, is actually guilty. As he digs deeper into the case, he discovers evidence that not only points to another culprit but also to the Army’s role in prosecuting the case by using illegal means to present its case and, when faced with evidence proving it was faked, engaging in a massive cover-up, protecting the real traitor, and increasing its level of lies, forgeries, and other extreme actions to protect themselves and the original verdict.The captain’s family works to try to get the prisoner released and the entire story eventually finds its way into the newspapers bringing with it the world’s attention. AN OFFICER AND A SPY is a well-planned, well-written novel, keeping the reader’s interest throughout. Most of it is based on fact. It took place in France in 1895. The French Captain was Alfred Dreyfus. It is told from the perspective of Colonel Georges Picquart, Chief of the Statistical Section of the French military. Robert Harris compellingly tells the story of his trial and the aftermath in the form of a historical novel using information from both governmental and other literary sources. It’s impossible to tell what is actual and what is the author’s imagination.Germany had overwhelmingly defeated France in a war in 1870. When the Germans shelled Strasbourg it was “the first full-scale use of modern long-range artillery specifically to reduce a civilian population.” The charge against Dreyfus provided an outlet for all the feelings held inside since then to be released and aimed at one individual, a Jew and a relatively cold man. As one character states, “When I look around Paris and see the number of foreigners everywhere, and consider the degeneracy of every moral and artistic standard, I realise I no longer know my own city. This is why we lost in ‘70–the nation is no longer pure.” Some interesting observations and descriptions:When Georges mother begins confusing him with deceased family members, he states, “There is one thing to be said for senility–since her mind has gone, she does not lack for company.”“On the rare occasions he does appear he creeps along close to the wall, dark and silent as a shadow. I could imagine him skipping around the edge of a closed door, or sliding beneath it.”“A drinker to judge by the filigree of blood vessels in his eyes....”
    • 5/5
      An original and fascinating approach to such a well known piece of history. The choice of narrator is the key. Despite the fact that we know how it's going to end, it still has the tension and suspense of good crime novel.
    • 5/5
      What a good read this was! I picked up the book while I was on two long plane journeys and I simply could not put it down -- within two days I had raced through all 450 pages, and I am not a fast reader. Harris weaves a real thriller, and his achievement is all the more remarkable when one considers that the outcome is already known. In terms of pure readability, this was one of the best fiction books I have read in the past 5 years.
    • 4/5
      Harris's masterful reimaginging of the notorious Dreyfus Affair, one of the most egregious miscarriages of justice ever. Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French Army, is accused and found guilty of treason. He is sentenced to Devil's Island. Major Georges Picquart is a witness at Dreyfus's dishonorable discharge and drumming out of the Army. Soon however, he begins to have his doubts about Dreyfus's guilt when he is promoted to Colonel and becomes Chief of the Statistical Section of the Army and begins to investigate further, starting with a note pieced together. More investigation, much of it unauthorized by the Army leads to another suspect. In his quest for justice, the dogged Picquart puts his own career on the line, and is transferred to Tunisia and later imprisoned back in France. This does not stop his putting clues together. Famous people such as Zola, the novelist, the Clemenceau brothers feel Dreyfus is innocent also and work for overturn of the verdict. There is much courtroom drama. Harris's dialogue is lively and action nonstop.
    • 3/5
      This is historical fiction of the Dreyfuss Affair from 1894 to 1906 in France. It is narrated in the voice of Colonel Piquard who was responsible for unraveling the trumped up case against Alfred Dreyfuss.The story is very well written and includes many of the events in the affair. I'm not sure how an author goes about getting into the head of a character like Piquard 100 years later and delivering an accurate representation of the thinking of the time. But it was done in a way that held my interest.
    • 4/5
      The Dreyfuss affair seen from the perspective of an officer of the French counterespionage. He doesnot like Dreyfuss but by spying the German ambassy he gets convinced Dreyfuss is innocent and he is victem of a mix-up with a very arrogant mole, who is protected by his 'fellow officers'.It doesnot end as a fairy tale because the main characters don't live happely ever after.
    • 5/5
      A historical mystery novel that recreates the Dreyfus Affair from the standpoint of the counter-intelligence agent who discovered that Dreyfus was innocent. Although the reader will know the outcome, the novel is gripping as Georges Picquart stumbles onto the evidence that Dreyfus is not guilty, then leads the hunt for the real traitor. As the stakes go up, the body count increases through discreet "suicides". Recommended highly.
    • 3/5
      A book of two halves for me. The first half set the scene slowly; the second raced to the denouement. So it a long time to get going and then seemed to be over very quickly. There was strong sense of 1890s Paris and it was a good (for me) overview of the Dreyfus Affair, but ultimately, I was a bit disappointed.
    • 3/5
      Novel of the Dreyfuss Affair. I still don't think this had anything to do with the French readiness for war.
    • 4/5
      An Officer and a Spy retells the Dreyfus Affair as a thriller told in the first person as inspector Colonel Picquart who uncovered the conspiracy and was instrumental in bringing it to light. The book's strength is to capture the drama and immediacy of unfolding events. Basically a movie version for a wider audience. I wish the novel had more insight into the larger social context. Dreyfus was one of a number of "affairs" that occurred in France in the years after the Franco-Prussian War and they held some common themes that are still relevant - Dreyfus was more than a story of antisemitism and corrupt officials.
    • 5/5
      This is a superb novel, in my view the author's best since Fatherland. It is a lightly fictionalised story of the notorious affaire Dreyfus, when Alfred Dreyfus, a captain in the French army in 1894, was falsely convicted of passing military secrets to Germany, as a result of which he was sentenced to the notorious Devil's Island prison off the coast of south America. The fact of Dreyfus being Jewish enflamed the passions of anti-semitism rampant in France (and elsewhere) at the time and prevented any chance of the truth being recognised for years. The novel centres around the efforts by Colonel Picquart, the head of the misleadingly named Statistics Section (but really an intelligence unit), to uncover the flimsiness of the evidence against Dreyfus and uncover the real culprit, Major Esterhazy. In doing so, Picquart has to defy the attempts not only by his superior Generals and the Minister of War, but also by his brother officers and junior staff, to cover up the miscarriage of justice, including by forging evidence against Dreyfus. In many ways the whole tragic saga is a textbook example of how an Establishment, in this case the French Army, can close ranks, not in this case to protect an individual, but in order to ensure that its reputation is not tarnished by having to admit that Dreyfus was innocent. In the end, of course, the exposure of the tragically farcical lengths to which the French Army has gone, backed by many politicians and a hysterical anti-semitic press campaign, subjects leading generals and the Army's own reputation to far greater ignominy than would have been the case otherwise. Dreyfus was pardoned in 1900 and fully exonerated in 1906, but the case sharply divided French society, and it is arguable that the ease with which anti-semitism revived itself in France in the late 1930s and under the Occupation owed a lot to the desire of the extreme anti-Dreyfusards to exact revenge. A great page turning novel, almost the only fictionalisations being the inclusion of a romantic interest for Picquart and the inevitable telescoping of some events and minor characters.