In September 1830, in the aftermath of the July Revolution, one of Europe's most experienced statesmen, Prince Charles Maurice de Talleyrand arrived in London for one last diplomatic mission. Talleyrand immediately found himself at the very centre of Georgian London's political world, mixing with William IV and the Prime Minister the Duke of Wellington as well as other noble figures such as Lord Holland and Earl Grey. English society had not yet acquired the virtuous tone of the Victorian era - the easy-going morals of the Regency period had continued into the reign of William IV and Talleyrand's cool and witty cynicism was equally in tune with the times. Talleyrand had been famous for his love affairs early in his career and, even at the age of 76, he still managed to be the subject of gossip. His niece-by-marriage and reputed mistress Dorothea, Duchesse of Dino, who was almost 40 years younger than him, served as his ambassadress in London and proved to be almost as shrewd a political operator as the diplomat himself. With her trademark sparkling prose, Linda Kelly here introduces us to the glittering world of Georgian high society, seen through the eyes of one of French history's most beguiling figures, Prince Talleyrand. Skryť popis