Introduction

The most famous, or infamous frenchman that ever lived is now a prisoner of king george the third. The royal navy has a frigate circling just in case he tries his luck under the tropical sun. For someone of such colossal self regard, let alone reputation, this is a spectacular fall from grace. In modern imesthere's been something of a rehabilitation of his reputation. Some no longer see him quite as the ogre that the british and their allies painted at the time. But he still divides opinion even in his homeland. Was he a freedom fighter, a champion of the oppressed, nwhose enlightened influence shaped european destiny? Or was he a delusional egomani