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A review by gilroy0
The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered by Laura Auricchio
5.0
An exhaustive but readable biography
The musical Hamilton has kindled my interest in the figures of the Revolutionary War and early American republic, so I knew I had to read more about “America’s favorite founding Frenchman”. This book is an excellent resource - it covers his life in detail but not mind-numbing detail. The prose is engaging and relatively light.
There is a lot more to the character of Lafayette than could be captured in a Broadway play. Although Lafayette was steadfast in his principles, he trod a complicated path through a series of perilous times. I had really had little understanding of his role in the French Revolution, where his struggles highlighted the challenge of remaining true to moderate principles in a time of extremes.
All in all, the book paints an excellent portrait of a nuanced man and the times in which he lived.
The musical Hamilton has kindled my interest in the figures of the Revolutionary War and early American republic, so I knew I had to read more about “America’s favorite founding Frenchman”. This book is an excellent resource - it covers his life in detail but not mind-numbing detail. The prose is engaging and relatively light.
There is a lot more to the character of Lafayette than could be captured in a Broadway play. Although Lafayette was steadfast in his principles, he trod a complicated path through a series of perilous times. I had really had little understanding of his role in the French Revolution, where his struggles highlighted the challenge of remaining true to moderate principles in a time of extremes.
All in all, the book paints an excellent portrait of a nuanced man and the times in which he lived.