Notes

Talleyrand read Balzac, given this writer's importance in France, and given the fact that Balzac's novel "Old Goriot" mentioned Talleyrand in very triumphant terms: "Balzac… in le Père Goriot… had referred to Talleyrand as the man who had saved France at the Congress of Vienna, the man to whom, above all, crowns were owed, but at whom mud was thrown. Balzac, therefore, was invited [to visit Talleyrand] to Rochecotte in November 1836… Talleyrand knew how important it was to win the good opinion of this fat, overdressed little man, and he was determined to win it. Balzac was greatly impressed" (Bernard, p. 600-601)