Victor Tissot
La police secrète prussienne
"La police secrète prussienne" by Victor Tissot is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book aims to uncover the hidden workings of the Prussian secret police, detailing the methods and moral implications of its espionage tactics during a time of social upheaval and revolution. The narrative is set against the backdrop of Berlin's turbulent revolutionary atmosphere of the mid-19th century, introducing characters engaged in the fight for freedom and the complex interplay of loyalty and betrayal. At the start of the book, the scene is set in Berlin shortly after the February Revolution, with a chaotic crowd clamoring for change while King Friedrich Wilhelm IV appears before them. The story introduces two characters, Schœffel and Goldschmidt, who engage in a tense discussion about the imminent appearance of the king in a politically charged atmosphere. As tensions rise, Schœffel, an ex-prisoner recently released from custody, visibly reacts to the presence of a man identified as Stieber, an agent who he believes betrayed him. The narrative quickly establishes a sense of urgency and conflict, introducing themes of personal loss, political intrigue, and the morally ambiguous role of the secret police amidst social upheaval.