Fear the first movement of the soul, because it is usually the most noble.(Ch. M. de Talleyrand)Cripple from birth| avid gambler and corrupt official | one of the smartest foreign ministers in history | talented intriguer and impeccably immoral politician| a man who possessed not only a quirky mind, but also a rare political instinct. That's who the author and main character of this book was.For almost half a century, he made history. Emperors, kings, parliaments, military leaders could not achieve what Talleyrand sought: sometimes just a word spoken in time, the right accent, subtle calculation. His name became a household name, and his life was overgrown with legends and myths. The memoirs of the legendary diplomat are an invitation to the world of big politics, a textbook on weaving intrigues and the art of negotiation.The publisher's layout of the book has been preserved in PDF A4 format.