Charles-Joseph, Prince de Ligne: Selected Letters

Charles-Joseph, Seventh Prince de Ligne, was from a prominent family in Hainaut, Belgium and served in the army of the Habsburg empire, his life a continuous paradox: soldier without command, ambassador without portfolio, crusader without a cross, and marshal without an army. Nor was he more fortunate with his writings. This state of affairs caused him to reflect that he would be an author without a following because of ... his superiority. The 34 volumes of his Mélanges appeared confused, ...