Talleyrand

By Philip G. Dwyer

Book Overview

From church establishment figure to revolutionary, supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte to promoter of the Bourbon Restoration, the twists and turns of Charles Maurice Prince de Talleyrand's remarkable career through one of the most turbulent periods of French and European history continue to fascinate. Witty and wiley, cynical and charming, Talleyrand has been portrayed as a cynical opportunist, hypocrite, and traitor who betrayed governments whenever he had a chance to do so. Yet as the representative of France and advocate of peace at the Congress of Vienna, he has also been cast as the saviour of Europe. Philip Dwyer offers a detached, more nuanced analysis of the role of Talleyrand in the corridors of power over five different French regimes. He 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. His ability to weather the tectonic shifts in French and European politics of the time, and to successfully attach himself to the prevalent political trend, ensured that his role as French statesman was long and productive.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0582323843
• ISBN13: 9780582323841
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Not a primary source bio, but good supplemental piece

This slender volume should not be used as an introduction to Talleyrand. That being said, it's a wonderful resource for those who have a background in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era through the July restoration. This isn't really a biography, more of a study of M. de Talleyrand's policy decisions & how they can be interpreted. The heart of this work is the question of the character & efficacy of Talleyrand - was he a manipulative Machiavel who overthrew governments will-he-nil-he or did his actions stem from a deeply held believe system which he consistently pursued throughout his controversial career? Again, this is a work seeking to clarify - it's a telescope look at a distantly seen landscape. Dwyer in some senses demystifies some of the Talleyrand apocrypha which has been passed down through French history and attempts to approach this fascinating subjects objectively (and mostly succeeds). He's obviously fairly sympathetic to Talleyrand, yet isn't fawningly credulous of every event described in Talleyrand's own memoirs. Therefore, I recommend this book as a supplemental, not a main source on Talleyrand. And overall, it's a very well-done, if slightly dry, work.