Now a thrilling and fast-paced new book by Simon Burrows, Professor of Modern History at the University of Leeds , tells for the first time in full detail how Morande went from a life of petty crime in 18th Century provincial France to one of scandal and espionage in high society as the French Revolution approached. 

Morande is probably best-known for persuading the King of France, Louis XV, to buy his silence in 1774 after blackmailing him over his sexual affair with Madame du Barry, a former vice-girl.  

A King's Ransom details how Morande helped radicalise the French people, contributing to the French Revolution, before becoming France 's leading political spy in London throughout the 1780s, and supporting America 's War of Independence against the British. He was also a highly successful police agent and one of the most influential journalists of his time.  

Professor Burrows said: "Morande was a remarkable man. His life is a story of intrigue, blackmail, espionage, duels, kidnap, murder, politics, conspiracy and crime. If he were a character in a novel, he would be the ultimate anti-hero. A peculiar mixture of James Bond, Dr Moriarty and Figaro, he would force us to suspend our disbelief at every page. Yet it is all true.'  

Born in Burgundy in 1741, Morande was a soldier of fortune and petty criminal before drifting to Paris where he became a pimp and confidence trickster. He took to debauching the mistresses of powerful men before fleeing to London in 1770, and turning his hand to writing scandalous pamphlets about Louis XV, his ministers and the royal mistress, du Barry. His first work, Le Gazetier cuirassé [The Armour-Plated Gazetteer] was a best-seller and he has been credited with beginning the radicalisation of the French people. 

In 1772, Morande threatened to publish an account of du Barry's notorious progress from brothel to the royal bed. Bounty hunters were put on his trail and, when their efforts failed, Louis XV sent the disgraced dramatist Beaumarchais to negotiate a settlement. In return for cash and a pension, Morande agreed to burn all copies of his book and never again attack the monarchy.

He began working for Beaumarchais, who was employed by the French government to run guns to the Americans, who were, by 1775, in open rebellion against the British. Through the 1780s he remained France 's top political spy in London and also served in the secret police.  

Following the French revolution of 1789, as France descended into political turmoil, Morande returned to Paris to edit a newspaper and defend the newly-created constitutional monarchy. When the monarchy was overthrown in August 1792, he was imprisoned briefly, narrowly escaping the September prison massacres. On his release, he went into hiding, while former friends and foes alike died beneath the guillotine in Robespierre's Reign of Terror. He ended up in his native Burgundy and died peacefully in 1805. It was a remarkable achievement.  

Professor Burrows adds: "Morande's enemies and victims included many of the most colourful figures of his day. Du Barry and Louis XV; the celebrated revolutionaries Mirabeau and Brissot; the cross-dressing diplomat the chevalier d'Eon; the charlatan magician Cagliostro; Beaumarchais; and leading French government ministers. His life opens a fascinating new window on their times."  

A King's Ransom is published by Continuum on 11 March 2010, price £20.

For more information 

Professor Simon Burrows is available for interview. Contact Guy Dixon, University of Leeds, media relations, telephone: 0113 343 8299 or pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk. 

Notes to editors  

The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise showed the University of Leeds to be the UK 's eighth biggest research powerhouse. The University is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University's vision is to secure a place among the world's top 50 by 2015. 

History has been taught at the University of Leeds for over 100 years. The School of History has been home to a number of distinguished academics and continues to recruit leading scholars. It is one of the largest schools of history in the UK , with more than 35 full-time academic staff, and an international reputation for research excellence. The School has particular strengths in Medieval, European, Modern British, and International history and expertise in Wider World history (especially the history of India , Africa and the United States of America).