Lafayette

Lafayette’s name is known to most Americans who have a passing familiarity with our revolutionary period. However, the true greatness of the man remains largely forgotten by the country that he served so well. Gilbert du Motier de La Fafayette, the man that Americans of the time would call “Our Marquis,” was (and is) a true hero for the cause of American independence. This book seeks to do him justice, and it largely succeeds. The use of personal and official correspondence sheds light on the thinking and emotions of Lafayette and those with whom he communicated during the critical times of his life.

Lafayette emerges from the pages as a knight of the Old World in service to the New. His character, courage, and skill as both a military leader and diplomat were well established by he reached his mid-20s. He was also a progressive thinker on social issues, having urged George Washington, his father figure, to work to dislodge slavery in the new United States of America. Lafayette also saw as early as any of the Founders that America needed a Constitution to secure its nationhood.

His life after the American Revolution was eye-opening to me because, like most Americans, what little familiarity I had with Lafayette ended once our own revolution (and his role in it) ended. Truly a remarkable man.

Rating 5 is not enough to grade this book. It was surely the best biography I have ever read (or to be completely fair, listen to).

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Métier, Marquis de La Fayette.
I am going to use that as a computer password. No one will ever crack into that one!!
Americans need to be more creative when naming their children.

Most of my friends (me included) know hardly anything about this man of renown on two continents. Probably as wealthy as Bill Gates and that idiot Musk combined. Known by Kings throughout Europe and had access to these kings and queens.
At the age of 19, smitten by the notion of liberty in the American colonies, sets sail for America to help the Founding Fathers secure independence from England. His wealth and his enormous influence in the Royal Court in Versailles were an enormous help in securing our independence. Our Founding Fathers might have been martyrs at the gallows instead of heroes.
By the end of the American Revolution, Lafayette's name was etched in the hearts of the Founding Fathers as well as the entire American citizenry. Revered is an understatement. Astonishing to read of the American adulation for this man.

But the story does not end there. Lafayette returned to France a hero. And he brought with him the seeds of liberty. He became as revered in France as he was in America.
And here is where the story becomes tragic. His enormous leadership quality crossed the ocean with him. He ignited the liberty movement in France, but the irony of it all was he stepped back from assuming leadership became his greatest failure. At some of France's tipping points he refused to lead it to fruition. On a number of instances, he stepped up to the brink of greatness, but refused to take command. He believed in the French people to do the right thing, with disastrous consequences. He completely misread the mind and mood of the French population.
The book describes the number of times Lafayette, in uniform, on a white steed, literally galloped into the revolutionary fray to the ecstatic cheers of the population, only to refuse to lead the revolution to fruition.
As I paused digest this thought, I wondered if history would judge this Knight on a white steed moments as a historical embarrassment, as well as his misreading of the moment.

Upon his death, the French Crown was so leery of the power of his memory, that there were no national ceremonies allowed. However, in America, Lafayette's death was mourned nationwide in state after state.

One question I asked myself at the end of the book was how did the story of Lafayette get relegated to the footnotes of the story of American Independence.

This book was very readable and an enthralling story.

What a fascinating biography of this errant French and American knight. This is an awesome biography that brings two revolutions to life. Very highly recommended. It is truly amazing that a single person could live through all of this. Whether a person is to be judged by the quality of his friends or the quality of his enemies, Lafayette shines. I think he just got a seat at my ultimate dinner party.

Fascinating book on a man I knew practically nothing about before reading Chernow's Washington: A Life. That book made me want to read more about this defender of American-style liberty in the Old World. The book was an easy read, kept me interested, and taught me about the second half of Lafayette’s life. Raised many questions about the French Revolution for me.

I really enjoyed this comprehensive look at his life and added a few items to my "must see list" next time I travel to France.

I learned more about the founding of American democracy from this biography than I did during my studies of American history in college. As a nation, we owe as much to the Marquis de Lafayette as we do to George Washington and all our founding fathers. At the tender age of 19, he was so enthralled with the idea of liberty and equality for all that he renounced a life of luxury and became a major general in the Continental Army. He spent large amounts of his own money and even was successful in persuading the French court to send the huge military and naval force needed to win American Independence.

Unger did huge amounts of research here and in France to write this book. Lafayette, Washington, Madison, Monroe etc. all come to life through their correspondence reprinted in these pages. George Washington so loved and appreciated the Marquis that he called him his "adopted son." In return, Lafayetted named his only son after our first president, and Washington became his godfather.

The life story of this remarkable man has everything that the best fiction offers: romance, intrigue, mystery, high hopes, dashed dreams and a lasting effect on the reader. It proves once more that "real life" is often stranger than fiction. This book is a page-turner and I am more than ever in awe of our hard won freedom and more aware of how it is taken for granted and even slipping away at present.

I've always loved history.

When I was in high school my English teacher had us read The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail and I developed my first true historical crush. My heart still goes pitter patter when I read Walden.

Up until now, Henry David has been the only historical figure that I truly fangirl over. I admire many people but I only had stars in my eyes for Thoreau.



This summer all that changed. Don't get me wrong, I still love Thoreau, but he has to share the stage with a new guy: The Marquis de Lafayette.

My love affair with all things Lafayette began when I started listening to a little musical called Hamilton.



My love for the musical quickly grew into complete and total obsession. I listened to it nonstop. (You see what I did there?)



For those who know the musical, you'll know that Lafayette, played by the extremely adorable Daveed Diggs, is totally cool. I knew about Lafayette but only in a peripheral sense. I remembered my teachers briefly mentioning him, but after listening to the musical I decided I needed to learn more, so I watched a mini documentary on him and realized that he was even cooler than the musical let on. (Which, I know, is hard to imagine.)



So, I did the only thing a true bibliophile could do and promptly ordered four books about Lafayette on Amazon.

I started with Unger's book and I'm so very glad I did. The more I read, the more I realized Lafayette was basically the coolest person ever and my fangirling reached epic proportions.



I invited my family over for a French meal to celebrate the dear Marquis and made them listen to all the cool things he did. All my friends and coworkers know much more about Lafayette then they ever thought was possible. I just can't stop. He's TOO COOL!



Lafayette snuck out of France because he had grandiose dreams of being a shining American knight. When he got here, instead of acting all hoity-toity like many of his fellow Frenchmen, he dug in and got to learning. He fought by the American's and never spoke ill of them. He donated millions of his own money to clothe and feed them. He adored Washington and Washington adored him right back. They were the cutest of besties. Lafayette even called his children George Washington and Virginie, after his favorite American.

We couldn't have won the war without France and Lafayette was instrumental in preaching the American cause back in France. He loved the ideas of freedom and liberty and spent his whole life fighting for them. His life was one of honor and generosity.



So there I am falling in love with Lafayette and suddenly we meet his wife. While Lafayette was off soaking up accolades his wife Adrienne was in the background quietly being a badass. She was AMAZING!

While many of the people in France were starving (ahem, see: French Revolution, causes of) Adrienne opened the Lafayette stores to give to the people that lived around their holdings. She also started a school for women to learn weaving so they could make items to sell. What's also impressive about this little tale is that Lafayette was smart enough to leave her in charge of all his finances while he was off fighting the Brits.

After the French Revolution when Adrienne wasn't allowed to see Lafayette in Austria's prison, she said that she would just join him in prison then, and she did. She was also the one that got them financially solvent after the French Revolution. In our little American History classes we never learn about the people behind the heroes. Adrienne was unbelievably fantastic.



She and Lafayette had a marriage of love and admiration and I loved reading about them. I can't get over how much I ardently admire both of them.

If you haven't figured it out, I LOVE this book. I was excited to read about Lafayette to begin with, but Unger brought him and his family to life. I loved the use of primary documents and the flow of the story. It's obvious that Unger cared about the Lafayettes and wanted to share with the world what they did. They left behind a fantastic legacy of kindness and courage.

I could go on for decades about all the admirable things the Lafayette's did, but I think you should read about it for yourself.