The Plebiscite by Erckmann-Chatrian

The novel is set during the Franco-Prussian War and explores the theme of patriotism through the story of a plebiscite held in a small French town. The townspeople are forced to decide whether to remain part of France or become part of Germany, leading to tensions and conflicts within the community.

By Erckmann-Chatrian · First published 1862 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Political Satire, Social Commentary · 13 chapters · 96,539 words

First lines

I am writing this history for sensible people. It is my own story during the calamitous war we have just gone through. I write it to show those who shall come after us how many evil-minded people there are in the world, and how little we ought to trust fair words; for we have been deceived in this village of ours after a most abominable fashion; we have been deceived by all sorts of people -- by the sous-prefets, by the prefets, and by the Ministers; by the cures, by the official gazettes; in a word, by each and all.

Could any one have imagined that there are so many deceivers in this world? No, indeed; it requires to be seen with one's own eyes to be believed.

• Open reader

What this Textopian page supports

The Plebiscite is listed on Textopian as a novel by Erckmann-Chatrian, dated 1862 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Erckmann-Chatrian
• Date: 1862 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Historical Fiction, Political Satire, Social Commentary, Drama, Literary Fiction
• Length: 96,539 words
• Structure: 13 chapters, 1,614 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Plebiscite by Erckmann-Chatrian
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

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Genres

• Historical Fiction — The narrative is set against the backdrop of a specific historical event, the Plebiscite, and explores the socio-political dynamics of the time.
• Political Satire — The book critiques the political manipulation and deception surrounding the Plebiscite, highlighting the absurdities of governance and public opinion.
• Social Commentary — It reflects on the lives of ordinary villagers and their interactions with authority, revealing the impact of political decisions on their daily lives.
• Drama — The interpersonal conflicts and emotional exchanges between characters, particularly during the Plebiscite, create a dramatic narrative.

Tags

Historical Fiction · French Literature · 19th Century · Political Intrigue · Social Commentary · Revolutionary Era · Romance · War and Military · Intrigue · Conspiracy · Power Struggle · National Identity

Contents

• CHAPTER I
• CHAPTER II
• CHAPTER III
• CHAPTER IV
• CHAPTER V
• CHAPTER VI
• CHAPTER VII
• CHAPTER VIII
• CHAPTER IX
• CHAPTER X
• CHAPTER XI
• CHAPTER XII
• CHAPTER XIII

More by Erckmann-Chatrian

• Uncle Christian's Inheritance (1899)
• La invasión o El loco Yégof (1862)
• The Dean´s Watch (1897)
• The Conscript (1864)
• Waterloo (1865)
• The Count of Nideck (1867)
• The mysterious sketch (1865)
• The Blockade of Phalsburg (1862)
• All works by Erckmann-Chatrian