capturing the unique essence of d'Éon's extraordinary experiences. The opening of the book provides a preface that sets the stage for d'Éon's life story, outlining the various misconceptions that surrounded him—especially regarding his gender and identity. It discusses d'Éon's rise from a relatively unremarkable noble background to becoming a soldier, diplomat, and even a celebrity in both France and England. The narrative hints at d'Éon's many escapades and highlights the intrigue surrounding his transformation from a man into a female role, a journey met with both acceptance and suspicion. The beginning also introduces the wealth of unpublished documents that the authors have uncovered, which will serve as the foundation for this detailed exploration of d'Éon's life and the striking historical context in which he lived. (This is an automatically generated summary.)