Dans le cloaque by Maurice Barrès

Dans le Cloaque: Notes d'un membre de la Commission d'enquête sur l'affaire Rochette (In the Cesspool: Notes of a Member of the Inquiry Commission on the Rochette Affair) is a 1914 non-fiction book by French writer Maurice Barrès. It is a scathing indictment of the French political system of the early 20th century, which Barrès saw as corrupt and morally bankrupt.

The book is based on Barrès's experiences as a member of a parliamentary commission that was set up to investigate the financial scandal surrounding the businessman Henri Rochette. Barrès was appalled by what he discovered, and he used his book to expose the corruption and incompetence of the French government.

Dans le Cloaque is a polemical work, and it is full of Barrès's personal opinions and prejudices. However, it is also a valuable historical document, and it provides a fascinating insight into the French political system of the Belle Époque.

Here is a summary of the book's main points:

• The French political system was corrupt and dominated by special interests.
• Politicians were more interested in lining their own pockets than in serving the public good.
• The government was incompetent and unable to solve the country's problems.
• The French people were apathetic and did not hold their politicians accountable.

Barrès's book was a bestseller when it was first published, and it helped to fuel the growing public disillusionment with the French government. It is still read today by students of French history and politics.

Here are some additional details about the book:

• It was originally published in a series of newspaper articles in 1914.
• It was first published in book form in 1914.
• It has been translated into English several times.
• The most recent English translation is by Brian Rigby, and it was published in 2014