Louis XVIII, is often considered a nonentity whose weaknesses, apathy, greed, insensitivity, were flagrant, and whose virtues, prudence, imperturbability, moderation, were unspectacular. Mansel sets out to prove he deserves better. The author considers the King's exile and move from Germany to Italy, from Italy to Russia and finally England, as well as examining Louis XVIII's ten year reign on the throne of France.