Book excerpt: Previously unknown details of Rene Angelil's personal and professional life are revealed in this investigation into the man who orchestrated one of the foremost successes in the history of show business. A seducer, dreamer, and inveterate gambler, Angelil lived through the 1960s with an attitude of blissful insouciance, only to suffer a series of professional setbacks and disappointments in love, which did not prevent him from achieving fame and fortune. In 1981, Rene Angelil staked his life on a single card: Celine Dion. His bet succeeded, yet the road ahead was still rocky. His health gave way, and as he was recovering, an accusation of sexual assault threatened to ruin his reputation. What comes next in the life of this inveterate gambler? This biography takes us far beyond the idealized, indulgent image presented by the media. Is this powerful man a genius? Is he the victim of a conspiracy, or does he abuse his power? Why is he so feared? This completely up-to-date book contains answers to all these questions and much more.