the count, despite his biographer's candour, imposes by his grand air on the reader much as he appears to have done on his contemporaries. The book is the most entertaining of contemporary memoirs, and in no other book is there a description so vivid, truthful, and graceful of the licentious court of Charles II. There are other and less flattering accounts of the count. His scandalous tongue knew no restraint, and he was a privileged person who was allowed to state even the most unpleasing truths to Louis XIV. When the Mémoires were finished, it is said that Gramont sold the manuscript for 1500 francs; and kept most of the money for himself. Fontenelle, then censor of the press, refused to license the book from considerations of respect to the strange old man, whose gambling, cheating and meanness were so ruthlessly exposed. But Gramont himself appealed to the chancellor and the prohibition was lifted. Death and timeline Gramont died on 10 January 1707 in Paris, and the Mémoires appeared six years later. Notes and references Notes Citations Sources – Knights of the Order of the Holy Spirit and general index – 1684 to 1686 – 1706 to 1707 – (for timeline) – Princeps – Commentary by Cyril Hughes Hartmann on Hamilton's Memoirs in Quennell's translation – GAR to GUE (for Gramont) – Abercorn to Balmerino – 1706 to 1707 – 1708 Attribution:''' 1621 births 1707 deaths 18th-century memoirists Counts of Gramont French male non-fiction writers French memoirists Younger sons of dukes