Talleyrand: A Biographical Study
Aug 2021 · Otbebookpublishing
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264
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About this ebook
Excerpt: "The life-story of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, as I propose to write it, begins when, in his third or fourth year, he falls off a chest of drawers and permanently injures his foot. That wrench of muscles and tendons, making him limp for life, led to a perverse action on the part of his educators that did equal violence to an excellent natural disposition. They say now that the education of a child begins a hundred years before he is born. In the case of Talleyrand you may just as well say a thousand. On his father's side he came of one of the oldest noble families in France, and his mother was a daughter of the Marquis d'Antigny. But these hereditary influences only shape the general contour of his character—give the refinement, the instinct to rise (Talleyrand, or Tailleran—as Napoleon always pronounced it—is said to be from "tailler les rangs"), the "sensibility" and "spirituality" (as people spoke then), the self-possession. When you wish to trace the growth of the peculiar traits of Prince Talleyrand, you find the beginning in that fateful fall and dislocation of the foot."
Excerpt: "The life-story of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, as I propose to write it, begins when, in his third or fourth year, he falls off a chest of drawers and permanently injures his foot. That wrench of muscles and tendons, making him limp for life, led to a perverse action on the p...
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About the author
Joseph McCabe (1867–1955) was a British writer, historian, and former Roman Catholic priest whose life and work straddled the tumultuous shifts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Manchester, McCabe entered the Franciscan order at a young age, quickly rising to the priesthood. However, his voracious appetite for knowledge and critical inquiry led him to question the very foundations of his faith. By 1896, McCabe had left the priesthood, embarking on a journey that would see him become one of the most vocal critics of organized religion.McCabe's literary contributions are vast, with over 250 books and pamphlets to his name. His works often tackled subjects ranging from history and science to religion and philosophy, always with a keen eye for detail and a fearless commitment to rationalism. He was a staunch advocate for secularism and humanism, aligning himself with contemporary freethinkers and skeptics. His writing style, characterized by clarity and rigor, made complex ideas accessible to a broad audience, influencing a generation of thinkers and writers.Not without controversy, McCabe's outspoken criticism of the Catholic Church and other religious institutions earned him both ardent supporters and fierce detractors. His revolutionary ideas about science, religion, and society challenged the status quo, contributing to the broader secularization movements of his time.McCabe's legacy endures in the ongoing dialogue between faith and reason, and his life's journey from devout priest to ardent secularist continues to inspire those who champion intellectual freedom and critical inquiry.
Joseph McCabe (1867–1955) was a British writer, historian, and former Roman Catholic priest whose life and work straddled the tumultuous shifts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Manchester, McCabe entered the Franciscan order at a young age, quickly rising to the priesthood. Howe...
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