Customer Reviews

General and Madame de Lafayette: Partners in Liberty's Cause in the American and French Revolutions

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After reading both Unger and Kramer on the astounding life of General Lafayette, I was very curious about his wife. This book of letters and history concerning her life of privilege and partnership is a complement to what most people know about her famous husband. Both the American and French Revolutions were pivotal in their life together of sharing their wealth to the very end. Adrienne generously gave the peasants working her land the best circumstances of the day, while Lafayette at age 18 bought and outfitted a ship to help the colonies win freedom. Three daughters and a son were born while the General was going back and forth across the Atlantic to muster more help from the French for the new nation. Their only son was named George Washington Lafayette and he escaped being imprisoned due to his mother's clever arrangement. Before she joined her husband in prison voluntarily, she snuck her son out of France to be raised for several years by Martha and George Washington. Lafayette's two daughters also joined their father in prison. When Lafayette was not allowed to enter France, his wife pursued their family interests in war torn Paris and environs. She regained La Grange for Lafayette's retirement. He survived Adrienne by almost 30 years at this lovely chateaux and never remarried. She died at 50 due to her illness contracted at the prison where she decided to join her beloved husband. Many relatives were guillotined, so Adrienne arranged their burial site at Picpus Cemetery to be close to the thousands dumped in a mass grave. An American flag flys over their grave for they were both truely "Partners in Liberty's Cause." Lafayette took a triumphal tour of all the United States and returned to France with American soil to spread over their graves. Both equal partners and generous souls.

After all that's been written about Lafayette, this book was a complete surprise. It added much to read of his wife's devotion and abilities and their lifelong relationship. It also places them in history, and by reading their letters, you are introduced to them directly. This book is not only entertaining but scholarly. Should be in every college library.

I cannot say enough about this fascinating book. It resulted in my visiting the Marquis' grave in Paris and arranging to have a new flagpole placed there, on which a new American flag is installed each July 4 as it has benn since the Marquis' death.

This was the first book I read about Lafayette, after only watching a short documentary about him.

This book was very easy to read, the only bit of confusion I got from it was I had a hard time following all the different french names.

The book starts off talking about his early life and goes on until his death. It talks about his roles in the American and French Revolutions, and discusses the life he lead and a few of the people it.

Over all it was a very informative and touching book. I got teary eyed when reading about his wife death and at his death.

Anything interested in Lafayette would be doing themselves a favor my reading this book. It really helps you to understand what Lafayette's life must have been like, and the emotions behind it.