The Man Who Would Be King : Life of Philippe D'Orleans, Regent of France

A fascinating and fresh interpretation of the life of Philippe d'Orleans and a portrait of a brilliant and glomorous time in history. Philippe D'Orleans had been a rebel at the court of Versailles, delighting in flouting convention and flaunting his vice. The focus on his lurid reputation led many historians to overlook his achievements. Libertine he may have been, but he was also a great Liberal and gallantly pursued a goal of peace and prosperity for all his fellow countrymen while beset by conspiracies, plots and intrigues. Patron of Watteau and the young Voltaire, Philippe D'Orleans was a modernising patrician whose Regency was was both glamorous and a fascinating transition period in the history of a nation. This biography sheds a new light on the man and his times.