The Plebiscite or a Miller's Story of the War

The Plebiscite (1871) written by the French literary duo Émile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian is a historical novel set during the Franco-Prussian War. The story is narrated by a miller from Alsace a region caught between France and Germany as he witnesses the events leading up to and during the war culminating in the plebiscite that determined Alsace-Lorraine's fate. Through the miller's eyes the novel explores themes of patriotism nationalism and the impact of war on ordinary people. The authors' vivid storytelling and attention to historical detail provide a powerful commentary on the political upheavals of the time.