Fouche Biography by Stefan Zweig Review

Fouche Biography by Stefan Zweig Review

Stefan Zweig is the only writer that wrote a biography for the fun of it. When his books where realling in the money, he decided to relax and write Fouche. Stefan Zweig was always fascinated by this mysterious personage. In history, Fouche appears as a the betrayer, a cut throat, a jerk. Then again, this history of Fouche was written by those who failed to best this man. However, Fouche was simply a wise diplomat. He was always rooting for the winner. By never swearing fealty to anyone, Fouche managed to surf the most turbulent times of French history. 



His first major nemesis was Maximilian Robespierre. Zwieg showed us in full light the evil of Robespierre's ways. For being the incorruptible, Robespierre was quite corrupted. Anyone who did not agree with him was in his To Guillotine List. The problem was that he was a sour closet case. When he won over most of the parlaimant to his side, he sought to destroy Fouche and everything he loved. The first victim he claimed was Fouche's little 5 year old daughter. Robespierre never forgave Fouche for not joining his click. Fouche was with the moderates, because he was a narutal middle feeder.

When Fouche went to begged for his life, Robespierre agreed only if he would do for him something incredibly gay. Well, at least that is what Stefan Zweig implied. Like any European writer, he never discussed these things directly. This event is one of the few spicy things about Fouche's life that Zweig explains to us. He also relates the time period that Fouche spent as a the head of the secret police. Needless to say, Zweig is the only biographer I like to read. All of his biographies are very well researched. He traveled all over France to dig up information on Fouche. He could have said more, however he omitted all the boring details. Truly, this biography deserves 5 star rating.