Monsieur de Talleyrand

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sainte-Beuve, Charles Augustin, 1804-1869

Language:

French

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Monsieur de Talleyrand" by Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve is a historical account written in the late 19th century. This work explores the life and career of Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, a prominent figure in French history known for his complex political maneuvers and relationships during pivotal moments such as the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. The narrative likely delves into Talleyrand's character, blending a critical perspective on his ambition and duplicity with an appreciation for his political acumen. At the start of the book, the author discusses the impossibility of fully capturing Talleyrand's essence, noting how he often shaped his public persona through selective narration of his experiences. The text elaborates on Talleyrand's early life, marked by familial neglect and physical disability, and how these factors influenced his ambitions. His success in navigating the political landscape during the Revolution is highlighted, showing him as a key advocate for the sale of church properties and member of the National Assembly, while also foreshadowing the moral ambiguities that define his later actions. Overall, the opening sets the stage for an insightful exploration of Talleyrand's multifaceted character and his significant, yet often controversial, impact on French politics. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Clarity, Hélène de Mink, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 64.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Release date is 2013-04-17