The Prisoner and the Writer is about a historical event, the Dreyfus Affair, that began in 1894. Ask students the following questions, and as a class write down key ideas or words on the board or a piece of paper:
- What does historical nonfiction mean?
- “Historical nonfiction consists of true accounts of historical eras and events.” (Masterclass)
- Why is it important to read historical stories today?
- What do these stories tell us about the past?
- What do they tell us about the present and inform how we participate in our communities? (Note: Revisit this question after reading.)