Unger makes it look easy. He effortlessly writes a story to hold your attention using facts and clear logic. How? Well it certainly helps that Lafayette is a bonafide, true blue hero. Unger proves that Lafayette was indispensable to the outcome of the Revolutionary War. Unger builds his case by proving that the Patriots could not have won without French involvement and then shows how Lafayette, through pure grit and determination, dragged France into the war. Brilliant.

EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR AMERICA’S FAVOURITE FIGHTING FRENCHMAN

My review of this book will be short: if you have time to read only one book about Lafayette, let it be this one. I’ve read many others about the man, all of which pale in comparison to Unger’s masterful treatment of the Frenchman, his time, and what he meant then and what he should mean to us now.

Sometimes it can hard to weigh a book when you like the subject so much, it's easy to overlook certain flaws perhaps in your overall enthusiasm. I enjoyed this book a great deal, because you can't help but like Lafayette, but so does the author. It's that lack of impartiality that I think detracts from it overall though. He mentions how vast the Lafayette souvenir and trinket industry (which exploded in the US) and most of the idealized portraits looked absolutely nothing like him--and you can't help but wonder a bit if you are getting the correct image of Lafayette through this book. The author does mention that there are thousands upon thousands of books on Lafayette--that just printing out the titles of all books up to 1930 runs to 280 pages and then there are vast Lafayette archives--mostly I suspect as I read this book because Lafayette gave de Stael a run for her money in letter writing.

Now we know what they did back in the age before television and the internet--furious letter writing. Some of Lafayette's letters ran to 50 pages to "tome sized" and it seemed by this book that Washington got the majority of these mash notes. The author does point out that the disparity of views on Lafayette across history depends a great deal on what country you're from. France had no public mourning for him and the jealous King ordered a private funeral, where hostile royalist troops kept the crowd cowering in their houses. Meanwhile, America underwent an almost orgy of grief. Every city went into mourning; flags half-staff; every military post & ship fired 24 gun salute at daybreak and another 1 cannon salute every 30 minutes all day; army & navy officers had to wear a mourning band for 6 months; Congress asked all Americans to be in mourning clothes for 30 days; John Quincy Adam's eulogy was handed out to 50,000 schools and libraries. He was the 18th century Princess Di. Our Marquis.

The reaction to his death is so extreme, with exuberance and indifference tinged with fear perhaps. It's obvious why Americans love him so much--perhaps no one loved the US as much as he did, and the reason why he's so beloved in America is why you can make a case against him. Although this book almost never criticizes Lafayette and it's so glowing, it makes you unsure. I've read a few other books that touch on Lafayette lately and watched a couple documentaries, including the recent PBS one, and from those sources I know he did cheat on his wife. His wife's sister found out and told her and she was crushed.

You would never know by reading this book though, which presents them as the Romance of the Century. I mean they still kind of were--they had that creepy aspect of being paired up at 12 & 14, although Lafayette was pointed towards some understanding courtesans during the early teen years and they were kept separate so that it wasn't too Flowers in the Atticish. And whatever lapses might have occurred earlier in the marriage, obviously with her going to a hay smeared with sewage rathole for years with him proves they mended their marriage. I was expecting to read about the affairs but nope not in this book. Lucy de la Tour thought he was an imbecile and other books have mentioned him being kind of a lucky idiot, but this book makes him out to be an autodidact in talents.

The language in this book is rather extreme, but also not backed up much--like Marat is referred to every time as being a "dwarf" but I noticed in the end notes an aside that he was really 5"1 but had bad posture. And Mirabeau was a pedophile and a rapist? I know he died from syphilis from one book (which Wikipedia lists his cause of death "as excesses of youth" although he was 42)--I know Mirabeau was a pervert even for his day, so god only knows, but the author also calls Robespierre insane or a lunatic many times. I don't think Robespierre was insane--I think he exemplifies the banality of evil and was paranoid, ruthless, jealous, and focused, but not crazy. And how did his wife die? Cholera or something? It wasn't broken by years in the prison, since it mentions how she recovered in her quest to restore the fortune and damn, she was a great financier. Her acumen on managing all the estates and the plantations for free slaves he set up--it may have been his idea--but she ran it for years. I would have liked to read more on what she was doing with all that. I wish authors consulted doctors with like a case study of historical figures to get some sort of diagnosis, rather than "broken heart," etc.

But anyways, this is not an impartial book. Lafayette is beloved in America for a number of reasons--those soldiers lucky enough to be under his command had someone that deeply loved the American cause, super hated the British, was willing to march along them and be cheerful in Valley Forge conditions, and was rich and generous enough to be buying shoes and super cool uniforms for everyone under him, and was actually a good and brave General. He was the perfect old world knight here to rescue us--the beloved adopted son of George Washington--and not just in all the battles, but thanks to him, he opened up trade from US to France, his home to all US traders and tourists, sweet talked on our behalf to Spain & Prussia & Iroquois & the Huron, and got the tons of money, troops, and ships that tilted it all to us.

For no reason other than total love. He didn't get money out of it, he donated half his fortune. He went back home when it was done, and in all his travels up and down the US--poor Lafayette is always criss crossing the US--and then leaving in a blast of glory and pomp, telling us that we're the best country with the best system as he goes and in a sense preserved the union more than any single individual, with his farewell tour coming right as America had its nastiest election results come in. With the idol of the Revolution beaming at them, the 4 disgruntled candidates shook hands and John Quincy Adams got to be president instead of riots and bloodshed. Of course you're going to not have a problem with Lafayette. What many of the cannier American diplomats on the scene noticed though during the Revolution, the main differences between the Revolutions was the participants involved. Franklin instead of Marat. Jefferson instead of Robespierre. Lafayette noticed it when the same rousing speech that worked so well on his American troops had zero effect on the Guard under his control, becoming eventually their prisoner. Reading between the lines in this book, I can see the criticism towards Lafayette, in that on several occasions in his life, he was in a key position to assert leadership during a time of crisis but didn't--preferring instead to do a showy George Washington/Cincinnatus-I must go be a noble farmer in retirement role--but because he wouldn't actively take the reins when handed to him, they fell to others who led the way to the guillotine, total anarchy, and horrible Prussian dungeons.

I can respect why he didn't but I think further information needed. This author also has an interesting thesis for the cause of the Revolution--too high tariffs on American goods, which led to a disastrous economy because of the many tax monopolies around the country: having to pay at the port, and then each county--so a bunch of tobacco that sold for 1 livre in Boston was taxed 54 livres by France, making it worthless to trade there. The author (and Lafayette, because this was Lafayette's view...I think) says that because France didn't take up all the trade opportunities that England was the deathblow. All the raw goods and eager, prosperous American audience was clamoring for French goods but couldn't because of stagnant medieval laws.

This was kind of new to me--he also says that the aristocrats voting down the 2% property tax and the attempt to lower the 20% tax on poor people was the other nail in coffin. Lafayette siding with the poor people over the greedy noblemen vote and support for taxing that 4% (thought that was an interesting # too--96% then to the 99% now), which of course spiraled out to the famous Tennis Court Oath. Author though doesn't mention King Louis' famous quote about how he blamed his support for US for the cause or anything about how France might have gotten the raw end of the deal.

But Lafayette is a guy who spent 5 years running through Carolina swamps to frozen upstate New York to come home and find the peasants starving and horrible famine (I personally think that the volcano that erupted in Iceland is what set the heads rolling) and his reaction? Open up all his silos and feed all the villagers for free. And hire a band to entertain them on Sundays. And when he was told to sell his grain for high prices because of the famine, his response was "No! Now is the best time to give it away!" Of course, most of the other rich landlords sold for high prices, let people starve, and paid for it later.

I was also impressed by James Monroe and especially his wife, Elizabeth, for being the agents who rescued Adrienne Lafayette from the dungeon she had been stuck in for almost 2 years. Kind of annoying though that throughout that part, the author never used Elizabeth Monroe's name, even though she appears multiple times through the book "his wife"or "Mrs. Monroe" only. It actually bothered me not knowing her first name and more info so had to look her up (but not sure if this author used many female sources--it seemed not with no Madame de Stael appearances at all, when Lafayette was a regular at her house). Very crafty strategy, with appeals and direct diplomatic requests to free her only making it worse, instead the US via James Monroe chose to embarrass the French government by sending Elizabeth to call formerly on Adrienne in prison--a really horrible prison. Took two drop ins.

I'm glad I read this though but am going to find another book on Lafayette for contrast.

I must admit to a small amount of shame as someone born in America, if not unwilling to label myself as an American, that while reading this book I had to acknowledge that the Marquis Lafayette despite being French, was more American than me. Hell, I don’t think there have been many Americans in history who can claim they were more American than him.
From an early age, Lafayette, despite his well heeled upbringing and prestigious background, became intoxicated with the ideals of individual liberty and equality for all. His concept of liberty extended beyond class, despite the highly stratified French culture he was a part of, and even extended to a denunciation of slavery. Inevitably, his burgeoning beliefs would lead him to make several attempts as a teenager to runaway from home (his first abortive attempt was an attempt to board a ship called “The Terrible” captained by a man named “Captain Death”) and join the emerging independence movement in America.
Once established there, Lafayette would go on to distinguish himself in battle, become a highly decorated general, and close personal friend to George Washington, a friendship that would last for the remainder of their lives.
During the darkest moments of the revolution, Lafayette would accept no salary and instead paid to feed and equip his troops out of his own pocket.
With the revolution completed, Lafayette returned to France and set about bringing republicanism to his native land. While it can certainly be said that Lafayette succeeded in bringing about change, it was by no means as smooth or stable a transition as he helped bring about in America. One could argue in fact that through his revolutionary ideas, Lafayette was much more in his element as a fighter and inspiration for liberty than in the day to day details of maintaining it.
Lafayette would go on to live through a series of revolutions and counter-revolutions, each bloodier and more chaotic than the last. Try as he might to harness the passions for liberty he unleashed on France, things quickly spiraled out of control as vicious and power hungry men filled the leadership voids he was unable or unwilling to fill, on part due to his unwillingness to resemble anything like a kind or tyrant.
Despite personal depredations, imprisonment, and constant dear of death, as well as his dismay at watching his native land descend into chaos, Lafayette never let go go his belief in the individual rights of all men (he is seemingly silent on the rights of women however).
There is much to admire about Lafayette. He was in every sense an extraordinary who while perhaps politically naive at times, was in every sense one of the founding fathers of America as well as a founding father of freedom for oppressed peoples around the globe.
I walk away from this book with a deep and abiding respect for what he accomplished in his life. If any of us could do half as much with ours as he did with his, I think we could consider ourselves blessed.

Not nearly as thorough or well-rounded as a Chernow biography, and the full context of Lafayette's situation is hard to infer. I know it may seem pedantic, but understanding how many properties Lafayette owned, what his income was like, the full extent to what he lost. All that would have been nice.

Ever wonder why so many streets and towns in America are named Lafayette? To call his life extraordinary would be doing him a disservice. Wonderful biography of a French aristocrat who traveled to a fledgling United States and became a hero in the American Revolution, only to return to a politically-corrupt homeland where he was stripped of his titles and property, and jailed for his democratic beliefs. He pretty much introduced democracy to a monarchial Europe. Though he was rich as shit, Lafayette was an honest man, and a champion for the rights of all citizens. Through the tumult of the French Revolution(s), Lafayette never submitted to allure of power by accepting or appointing himself to positions which were not granted to him constitutionally. Morally pure to the end, Lafayette's generosity, recognition/positive use of his class-privilege, and acceptance of all his countryfolk makes him a legendary figure in history - though tellingly, not in the history books.

A detailed, well-written and gripping biography of Lafayette. Unger clearly lays out Lafayette’s life and accomplishments, and his impact on the history of the North American and European continents. Unger clearly explains Lafayette’s role and personality, and his easy reception among the colonists due to his status as a Mason, his wealth, and his access to Washington and the king of France.

There are some errors. At one point Unger writes that Patrick Henry warned Jefferson of the British advance on Monticello (it was Jack Jouett). Elsewhere he writes that “Saratoga had been America’s only military victory since the beginning of the war.” Elsewhere he describes Benedict Arnold as “reluctant” to take command on the battlefield, and mixes up John Adams with Arthur Lee at one point. Also, it often seems like Unger is a bit too in love with his subject, and the writing can get over the top (Marat is called a “foul, ill kempt Swiss dwarf” and it seems like Unger can’t write a single sentence about Louis XVIII that doesn’t include “obese”) Unger also writes that Washington had “refused pay for his service in the Revolutionary War.” Unger does not mention that Washington instead chose to work for expenses because he knew these would end up totaling much more. He also writes that “a huge European coalition had formed to crush the the French Revolution and prevent its spread to neighboring countries,” although the aims of France’s European enemies were arguably just to contain France within the 1792 frontiers.

A readable, well-paced, and illuminating biography.

As it turns out, Lafayette was a total badass. Who knew?

Everybody knew. This book reaffirms it.

Pros: This book is full of monarchies across Europe collectively soiling their pants at the thought of LaFayette, from that sack of shit King George III to several Austrian, Prussian, and French royalists trying (but not succeeding) in silencing him.

Cons: Surprisingly, LaFayette didn't rap at 240 beats per minute like the musical "Hamilton" led me to believe. I'm disappointed that he didn't collect names like Daenerys Targaryen because that would be epic, but "Gilbert du Motier, marquis de LaFayette" is long enough I suppose.

I'm going to go tell my wife I'm not putting up with her authoritarian ways anymore.

4/5 crepes. Will read again. Oui Oui!

When Lin-Manuel Miranda said Lafayette was “America’s favorite fighting Frenchman,” he did not lie. I first learned about Lafayette in ‘Hamilton’ and I had to know more about this dude who came to the colonies to fight for their freedom? For no reason? There had to be more there.

Harlow Giles Unger provides such an in-depth and interesting biography of the Marquis de Lafayette using mostly primary sources from the man HIMSELF that what I thought was going to be a slog of a historical biography was fascinating and I couldn’t put the (audio)book down. If you want to learn more about Lafayette, I highly recommend this book. Highly.

Unger breaks Lafayette life into two parts: the American Revolution (which he calls The Best of Times) and the French Revolution ( The Worst of Times) and here are some of my favorite things that I learned:

1. Hearing about the Colonies revolting one night at dinner, Lafayette was instantly intrigued and wanted to go fight with the blue coats. He was forbidden from doing so, SO HE BUILT A BOAT IN SECRET AND SAILED TO THE COLONIES and was like what’s up George Washington I am here to help. He was 19. I will never move on from this.

2. When he first visited France after his secret boat ride across the ocean and mid-American revolution, he was IMPRISONED BY THE KING OF FRANCE FOR HIS ACTIONS albeit in a fancy home, etc., etc.

3. When Marie Antonette demanded that Lafayette be stripped of his French military titles after the American Revolution but pre French Revolution, the man all but shrugged it off in letters to Washington and his other correspondence like “Yeah, so what Marie.” He was stripped of his ranking, then given it all back, then retired, then asked to come back to the military which he did.

4. This man was asked to be president of France, then Mayor of Paris and when he turned down both he was forced back into the military to lead through the start of the revolution.

5. After he was imprisoned in Austria during the French Revolution because he had had enough and was all “I’m an American citizen actually” and Austria was like “Mhmm. Into the cell.” HIS WIFE, ESCAPING THE TERROR, brought her their two daughters and was like “Oh, we live here now in prison with him.” AND WHAT A BADASS.

There are just a few of the facts about Lafayette’s unbelievable life that stuck out to me, when this book was constantly making my eyes go wide or having me whisper “no way” because Lafayette really was that man of myth and legend and I can’t believe how little I knew about him before.
I know I said it above, but I highly recommend this book because it also reads like fiction, but is obviously not. I was never bored or wondering when Lafayette would get back to interesting activities because this man never stopped. I finished this book amazed with Lafayette’s life and curious to learn more about the French Revolution.

Such an interesting read. I did not know a lot lot about what happened to Lafayette after the American Revolution. It was really interesting to learn about France’s reaction to Lafayette’s ideals.

Having spent time with many of the founding fathers of the United States, I believe Lafayette was more American than he was French in his view of humanity.

I am seriously considering throwing, "Lafayette," in as the middle name of one of my children. Usually when I read a biography I walk away a little disenchanted about the subject, but in this case I found that there once was someone in the universe who could truly be 'admired. How can one man just kick-ass his whole life? From a political, moral and strategic point of view? At 70 he was still kicking ass.

And yeah, I came close to crying at times too.

The only minor complaint is that I grew weary of the sappy letters to and from George Washington.

I'd also add that the next time someone says, "The French would be speaking German if it wasn't for the United State," I'd reply that, "We'd have the Queen on our dollar bill if it wasn't for Marquis de Lafayette."