In which the remarkable life and curious career of the Chevalier d'Éon unfold, revealing a man of singular bravery, wit, and restless ambition enmeshed in the labyrinthine intrigues of Louis XV’s secret diplomacy, and the persistent enigma of his assumption of female dress. From youthful military ventures to delicate missions in foreign courts, the narrative gently traces how d’Éon’s extraordinary public rôle and personal demeanour became a living puzzle that captivated and confounded his contemporaries.