Alphonse Daudet's The Last Lesson is set during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), when France lost the Alsace-Lorraine region to Prussia. The story captures the emotional impact of Prussian authorities banning the teaching of French in schools, replacing it with German. It reflects on themes of cultural identity and the regret of neglecting one’s language until it is too late.
An interesting fact about Daudet is that he wrote this story drawing from his own experiences in France during this turbulent period. Despite its poignant themes, Daudet himself was not highly educated and began writing at a young age to support his family after financial hardships. The story subtly critiques both the people’s complacency and the oppressive policies of linguistic imposition.