Talleyrand: The Life and Legacy of France's Most Influential Diplomat

“Politics is the systematic cultivation of hatred.” - Talleyrand

While Metternich is most associated with the Congress of Vienna, France, despite its turbulence, had its own influential representative there: Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. Known simply as Talleyrand, his name ultimately became associated with crafty, manipulative personal and political maneuvering, even in a country that suffered no shortage of such diplomats and ministers in its history.

As an adult, Talleyrand li...