In France during the turbulent decades of revolution, republic and empire around the turn of the nineteenth century, political leaders were fortunate if they kept their heads; forging any kind of lasting legacy was out of the question for most. Bucking the trend was Talleyrand, lesser-known as a revolutionary, but who, as William Doyle argues in this article, deserves far more recognition for his strategy and commitment during the 1790s which had a far-reaching impact...