Trooper 3809: A Private Soldier of the Third Republic

"Trooper 3809: A Private Soldier of the Third Republic" by Lionel Decle is a first-person story from the late 1800s that explores the author's time as a young soldier in the French cavalry, called the 9th Dragoons, giving readers a peek into military life and the difficulties soldiers faced. The story kicks off with Lionel Decle getting ready to join the army, describing how he was recruited and the different backgrounds of the other soldiers he met. He uses humor to describe his struggles with uncomfortable uniforms and being made fun of by officers, while also showing the tough rules and unfairness within the army, also discussing societal tension from the Dreyfus Affair. Decle points out the problems in the French army that took advantage of new soldiers, setting the stage for a closer look at his personal military experiences and his criticisms of the army itself.