On September 3, 1783, representatives of the United States Government and King George III (1738-1820) of Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the American Revolutionary War. After eight long years of violent conflict, the war was over but in France, another revolution was brewing internally. And in both there was a central figure named Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) often referred to as “Lafayette”. Before reading this New York Times bestseller by author Mike Duncan, I had limited knowledge of Lafayette and the intricacies of the French Revolution (1789-1799). But after finishing the biography, I know have a deeper understanding of American and French history. And this is what makes the book immensely invaluable. It is a story of two history changing revolutions and the man who was both a witness and a participant of each.

The story begins in Chavaniac-Lafayette, France during the mid-1700s, where Lafayette is born on September 7, 1757. It is not long before tragedy strikes the Lafayette family and sets the young man on his path to career in the military and in government. It is not long before the story takes twists and turns, beginning with the entry of future wife Adrienne (1759-1807). But in August 1775, a meeting with the Prince William Henry (1743-1805), Duke of Gloucester changes the story forever and sets the stage for Lafayette’s contributions to the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. And once he departs from France, leaving wife and child behind, the story evolves into a roller coaster ride as Lafayette serves under the command of Gen. George Washington (1732-1799) who would become America’s first Commander-in-Chief. He also became acquaintances with the men who became the nation’s founding fathers and Duncan’s work is a step back into time when America was still a concept in progress. It should be noted that Lafayette was not the only Frenchman to pledge allegiance to the colonists. In fact, the full story of the recruitment in France is an underrated aspect of the colonial effort. Admittedly, I was not aware of the facts presented by Duncan regarding the inclusion of French troops and the country’s complicated relationship with Great Britain.

We follow Lafayette throughout his service to Washington and witness the difficulties the Continental Army faced both externally and within, including the traitorous actions of Gen. Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) and troops threatening mutiny. Readers interested in the American Revolution will thoroughly enjoy this section of the book. Lafayette departs America before the treaty is signed and returns to his wife Adrienne and his growing family whom he had not seen in several years. However, their brief period of happiness is soon overshadowed by the growing threat of revolution in France, where the people had reached their limit with King George XVI (1754-1793) and his wife Marie Antonette (1755-1793). In time the couple would flee, and their last moments are gruesome examples of the brutality in 1700s France. Their deaths and the last moments of other government officials are not for the faint of heart. Frankly, if the people came to despise and wanted your head, they took it. I felt chills multiple times while reading of the grisly fates awaiting officials deemed enemies by the people. Throughout the chaos, Lafayette manages to survive and find his own path away from the anarchy but eventually finds himself incarcerated at the Olmütz prison in Austria. The story takes an unexpected turn yet again when Adrienne makes a decision that left me speechless. However, it is a testament to the meaning of true love. Sadly, this decision would also have dire consequences later in the book as readers will learn.

The entry of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) in the story is another turning point and indirectly contributes to Lafayette’s release from Olmütz. But the relationship between Bonaparte and Lafayette is interesting, and the latter soon sees the dictatorial tendencies in the ambitious military officer who once saw himself as the emperor of Europe. The author does an excellent job of explaining the social climate and the growing threat Napoleon represented to the future of democracy in France. Lafayette remains in high standing and continues to serve in government, but his growing belief in the abolitionist cause would place him at odds with his mentor and friend, George Washington who died in 1799, years before Lafayette’s final visit to America with son Georges (1779-1849) in 1824. It would be his last hurrah and a bittersweet farewell to the country he fought so valiantly for. And as the events play out, we can also see that age is catching up with him and mortality is a reality from which no one escapes.

Upon Lafayette’s return to France, the story again heats up with another threat to the democratic process. Thankfully, it is averted, but the story highlights how close the French came to another violent revolution. For Lafayette, his eyes had seen too much bloodshed, too much greed and he understood the importance of peace and a healthy democracy. And when he makes his final departure in the story, I felt the closure to an extraordinary life that could never be scripted. He was not without his flaws, but I can appreciate his contributions in assisting a young nation called the United States establish itself as a new independent republic in which I was born. Further, there are a couple of interesting facts about his last visit to the United States that left me with a smile on my face. And it is one more reason I have always felt Black history is American history. If you are interested in the life of Marquis de Lafayette, the American Revolution and the French Revolution, this book is must read. Highly recommended.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08KQ38BS5
Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs, August 24, 2021