Talleyrand

Profiles in Power

by Philip G. Dwyer

Larger-than-life figure whose dodgy reputation demands reassessment. His interventions and motivations in France and Europe have been the source of heated debate, ever since his prominent role during the opening stages of the French revolution - Dwyer weighs up the arguments. Renewed interest in Napoleon Bonaparte. Dwyer is a Talleyrand specialist and expert on France and Europe during this period. Apart from Duff Cooper' s volume, there is nothing else available in English.

Witty and wiley, cynical and charming, Talleyrand has in the past been portrayed as an opportunist, hypocrite, and traitor who betrayed governments whenever he had a chance to do so. From church establishment figure to revolutionary, supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte to promoter of the Bourbon Restoration, this book follows the twists and turns of Charles Maurice Prince de Talleyrand's remarkable career through one of the most turbulent periods of French history. However, Phillip Dwyer presents Talleyrand as a pragmatist, a member of the French political elite, mediating between various political interests and ideological tendencies to produce a working compromise, rather than actively seeking the overthrow of governments. This is the latest book in the best-selling "Profiles in Power" series. Philip Dwyer specialises in the history of Napoleonic France and Europe: published titles include Napoleon and Europe (Longman) and Modern Prussian History (Longman). He teaches history at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales.

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 1996

About the author

Philip Dwyer studied in Perth, Paris and Berlin before receiving his doctorate from the University of Western Australia. His first posting was as a Leverhulme Fellow at the University of Dundee. He has taught European History at the University of Newcastle since 1994. His primary research interest is eighteenth-century Europe with a particular emphasis on the Napoleonic Empire. Volume one of his study on Napoleon won the National Biography Award in 2008. The second volume published in 2013 was short-listed for a number of prizes. The third and final volume of Napoleon is due out in 2017. He is currently working on a global history of violence. Philip is founding Director of the Centre for the History of Violence.

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely delivered on what I was looking for, which was about 200 pages worth of biography of Talleyrand to satisfy my curiosity about what his deal was. If that's your situation, I recommend it. If not, I don't see why you'd bother reading this.