"The author holds up the mirror with impartiality, without fear or passion, and with an unmistakably friendly intention, and asks, "Where art thou going? Towards Jena or Sedan?" In explanation of the title, Jena stands for French supremacy and German defeat-Sedan for German victory and a French débâcle; but be warned that in this truthful mirror of life there may be details liable to shock insular notions. The author could not shrink from such in the fulfilment of his task, which was to give the truth-the whole truth and nothing but the truth. His work must be judged not only as a novel, but it must be regarded also as the cry of a patriot who loves his country above anything in the world. First published in 1905.