Where and when was J’accuse published?

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Black and white portrait of French novelist Emile Zola with glasses, a full beard, and mustache, wearing a suit and looking to the side. — Émile Zola French novelist Émile Zola.

Émile Zola’s famous open letter, J’accuse, was published in the newspaper L’Aurore on January 13, 1898.1

Written in defense of Alfred Dreyfus, the letter was a courageous act of moral integrity that challenged the French army for its role in a wrongful conviction and systemic injustice. By publicly denouncing the cover-up, Zola prioritized the pursuit of truth and justice over his own personal safety, ultimately facing a libel trial for his principled stand.1