Behind-the-Scenes Politician - A Biography of Joseph Fouché

Author: Stefan Zweig
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Joseph Fouché is one of the most extraordinary figures in history. He had defeated Napoleon and Robespierre in his inner struggles; yet history has cast him as a supporting player, indifferent, pushing him to the background. This man has always had a bad reputation, being considered a natural traitor, a conspirator, a flatterer, a professional poseur, and so on. He represents a type of politician—the behind-the-scenes politician. Zweig believes that in real life, what determines the outcome is not the outstanding intellect but rather the lower-level behind-the-scenes politicians like him. He points out that for self-defense, we should recognize the faces of this kind of person and see through the secrets of their rise to power.