Event overview
In July 1898, the French novelist Émile Zola fled France and came to England. He lived in south London for 11 months. Michael Rosen, Professor of Children's Literature at Goldsmiths has written a book explaining and describing why Zola was on the run. He had been found guilty of libelling the Court Martial with his famous open letter to the President, 'J'Accuse' in which he claimed that the French ruling order was corrupt and had rigged trials in relation to Captain Dreyfus. Dreyfus was a Jewish army officer found guilty of espionage and was at this time dying on Devil's Island. Zola had intervened on Dreyfus's behalf to bring him back from prison.
Zola spent his time in England, writing a novel, taking photographs, writing to his wife, Alexandrine and to the mother of his two children, Jeanne Rozerot. The two women visited Zola in England as he tried to make sense of England, the Dreyfus Case, his relationships and what seemed to him the crazy sickness of anti-semitism and anti-Republicanism that had taken over France.
Michael Rosen has written about what Zola did, who he saw, how Zola was received in Britain at the time - both in a literary sense but also in a political way, and he reflects on how important Zola's intervention was speaking out against persecution and racism. Michael will talk for a short while about the book, read a few short extracts and take questions.
RSVP: c.hoste@gold.ac.uk
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 2017 | 5:00pm - 6:30pm |
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