Now It's History

Now It's History

One man against the world

Timely lessons for the Trump era from the careers of Talleyrand ... and Napoleon

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Richard Galant
Aug 06, 2025
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Bust of Talleyrand at his estate at Valençay, photo by Gerd Eichmann.

From the beginning, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord’s life was a struggle. Born with a club foot and raised at a distance from his aristocratic parents, the young Talleyrand was dealt a stern fate: his younger brother would inherit the family name and title while Talleyrand, too…

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