Un aventurier au XVIII siècle: Le chevalier d'Éon (1728-1810)

Born into a modest family in the early eighteenth century, the Chevalier d’Eon became a celebrated soldier, diplomat and secret agent, known for his mastery of language, swordplay, and intrigue. A self‑chosen transformation into a woman later in life turned him into a living paradox that both fascinated and unsettled the courts of Europe.

The narrative is built on a cache of unpublished letters, diplomatic notes and personal journals that lay hidden in an English shop for more than a century. These primary sources let d’Eon speak directly, revealing his friendships, rivalries and the everyday concerns of a man navigating both public and private stages. By pairing private correspondence with official records, the book paints a vivid picture of eighteenth‑century secret diplomacy.

Listeners will be drawn into a richly textured portrait of a figure who embodied the contradictions of his age—brave yet cunning, masculine and feminine. The clear, journalistic style makes the history feel immediate, offering a fresh window onto a turbulent century.