This is a very well written and researched dual biography on two historical figures of the american and french revolutionaries. I had no idea just how much their lives intertwined on a personal level. As an American, I am more knowledgable about the American Revolution, so I had no idea that Lafayette was imprisoned for so long after returning from the former colonies. Any Hamilton fan would love this deep dive into the backstory of Lafayette and Jefferson, not to mention enthralled when Angelica's contributions are examined.

After seeing Hamilton a couple of times and being reminded of the excitement of that era of American History, I was moved to read this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC.

The sub-title of the book is a bit misleading. The two men don't even meet until we are 65% of the way through the book. The book follows the arc of both men from childhood, through the American Revolution and in Paris.
And though I've read other biographies of both men, I found the information compelling and an easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was a bit disappointed at it's abrupt ending.

This is a good read for any history buff.
Enjoy

I found this was a fun and very interesting read. The further I dived into the storyline of this book I.became quit addicted to the story because in aa hug history buff. I highly recommend this book to history buffs.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

One of the fun things about reading the biographies of legendary historical figures is when the historian brings them to life. We learn about our founding fathers through history books filled with facts, which can be interesting. But historical biographers show us the man or woman who they really are. We see their fame and foibles, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes.

Mr. Chaffin brings two such historical figures from flat, white history pages into real people that are rounded into men we can feel and understand. He even makes us understand the conflict that Benedict Arnold experienced that turned him into a traitor. And he was only one of figures brought to life through his research and talent.

I recently traveled to Washington’s beloved Mount Vernon where he became a flesh and blood man to me. The book reinforces that image and helped me understand the humanity of LaFayette, his friend and cohort. I loved the book and admired the ability of Mr. Chaffin to make them real characters that felt fear, had ambition, loved their families and wanted more from their country. If you love history, want to know more about the people who made history, you will enjoy this book. Find out who Washington and LaFayette really were.

The title of this book suggests that it will be about the friendship between Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette. That is not really the case. While they became friends when Jefferson and Lafayette were both in France, and remained friends until Jefferson’s death, the book is more of a dual biography of the two men. My eyes glaze over when reading about military maneuvering, and there was quite a bit of this in the beginning of the book covering the American Revolution. Nevertheless, I found the book very readable. There was enough personal, social and political history to hold my interest. I could have done without the pointless recitation of Jefferson’s flirtations with married women. It was too gossipy for me, and certainly had nothing to do with Lafayette.

Since I am more familiar with American history and Jefferson than I am with French history and Lafayette, the second half of the book was of more interest to me. It described the relationships among Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and Lafayette in France and also covered the French Revolution and Lafayette’s eventual imprisonment. The writing was clear and entertaining and I would read more by this author.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

The sometimes parallel, sometimes intersecting, lives of Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette are brought together in dramatic fashion in Revolutionary Brothers: Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, and the Friendship that Helped Forge Two Nations, a comprehensive and fascinating study of two men who shaped history.

Living in the United States, I had learned a good deal about Thomas Jefferson through my history classes but knew very little about the Marquis de Lafayette. This deficit was corrected, and my education substantially enhanced by this captivating dual biography. Author Tom Chaffin does an excellent job of capturing the histories of both men from their formative years, through their association during and after the Revolutionary War, during Jefferson’s ambassadorship in France, and to their final meeting at Monticello. Also interspersed throughout the book were intriguing tidbits about such luminaries as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and George Washington.

Although the book provides excellent biographies of both men, their interaction does not, in my estimation, conjure up the phrase “revolutionary brothers” in the familial sense (as the subtitle implies). Instead, the “brotherly” association here is more of the “common cause” type of relationship. That trivial issue aside, the book, while lengthy, is extremely well-researched and well-written, reading as smoothly as any novel. Revolutionary Brothers is a valuable and worthy addition to the histories of these remarkable men.

A well-researched, well-written and engaging dual biography of Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette, with a good balance between straight serious history and entertaining anecdote. In spite of the title there’s not a lot about their friendship, but that friendship was indeed an important aspect of their lives and the details are well handled. Recommended – it was a turbulent time and Chaffin has done a good job of making history accessible to the general reader.

As a history teacher, I know a lot of the basics. This book goes beyond basic knowledge and provides enormous depth and detail. I really enjoyed reading about the daily lives of these two well-known historical figures. The pacing and the switching back and forth provides very nice pacing.

I was pleasantly surprised by Tom Chaffin's new book "Revolutionary Brothers".

The novel gives a short but very detailed dual biography of Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de LaFayette. As a good American, I know many facts and details of Mr. Jefferson's life, however, this book gave me a better insight into his life before and after making a huge impact on American History.

The story of the Marquis de LaFayette's life was very fascinating, and his rise and fall of power have been very intriguing. He has left tremendous footsteps in American history, and unfortunately is not fully recognized by it.

An author has written a history that reads like a novel, which makes it so easy to read. He characterized the friendship of two extraordinary people in a remarkable manner. Thanks to him, I learned so much more about American History. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free and advanced copy of the novel.

I was allowed to read an ARC from NetGalley (thank you!).

This was very well-written and well researched. Tremendous care was given to both it is obvious! These two gentlemen have always been favorites of mine from American history. It was a treat to see them both in one read.

My only quibble is that the links between the two are perhaps weaker than maybe the title indicated. Overall, it was an excellent read and I would undoubtedly recommend to anyone interested in these two powerful subjects.

"Revolutionary Brothers" is a welcome look at some of the most important alliance-building relationships of the American and French Revolutions. The Marquis de Lafayette actively sought involvement in the American Revolution, bringing his eagerness and wealth to the successful support of George Washington and the Continental Army and becoming something of an able and storied leader of soldiers in his own right. It turned out that part of his motivation was revenge for the death of his own father, but didn't come to light until much later, and was hardly satisfied by even an ironic end to one of the British generals. Still, through all of that, the Marquis' adoption of General Washington as a father figure and his ingratiation with soldiers and politicians alike made him invaluable to the American cause and an able representative of the French monarchy in North America. Jefferson, however, shied from the Revolution on the battlefields and in the Congress, with the Marquis's military leadership saving his legacy more than once near the end of the war. Through the military campaigns in Virginia and North Carolina, they became acquainted, and Jefferson's appointment as a diplomat to France after the American war sealed their friendship. Along the way to his attempts to bring about reform in France from inside the system, with Jefferson's moral support, Lafayette tried to walk a fine line between loyalty to the monarchy and his desired role as reformer, considered revolutionary by that monarchy, that he set out to be from his political beginnings. With all of the factionalization, upheaval, and return to monarchy between the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon, the Marquis tried to stay right in the middle of it, even when Jefferson offered him the opportunity to retreat to the new Louisiana Purchase (from France). He did successfully withdraw from military activities and eventually settled into his political role as something of a statesman. After several years of travel in the expanding United States and his return to France just in time for the 1830 revolution, the Marquis renewed his opposition to the monarchy re-established there and was essentially exiled from government prominence in attempts to silence his revolutionary agitating, though he still spoke to gatherings and groups on his beliefs in liberal policies, many of which he developed through copious correspondence with Jefferson. By the time of the Marquis' death in 1834, he had outlived Jefferson by almost eight years. His early eagerness, his interest in the American cause, and his lifelong statesmanship brought him into friendship not only with Thomas Jefferson but also with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and many of the other statespersons of their generation. Restricting this "biography of a friendship" to just the Marquis and Jefferson is a bit unfair, as they both built quite a network of shared acquaintances, friendships, and alliances over their lifetimes. However, this was an insightful exploration of that particular friendship between the Marquis and Jefferson that drove so many events of their individual histories and their roles in their respective, and each others', countries.

The title is misleading, in that is implies a focus on a relationship that in truth was a small part of two quite remarkable lives.

Chaffin does a terrific job of sketching the lives of both men, and where they intersected--first early in the Revolution, when the young and eager La Fayette came to North America seeking glory, then when Jefferson went to France on the eve of its Revolution, and threw himself into the high life among the (doomed) aristocrats, and finally when La Fayette needed rescuing as his own country turned on this idealistic adventurer.

There are more detailed biographies of both out there (for fascinating detail and sheer readability, I recommend Claude Manceron's masterful multi-volume history of the period), but this one serves as an absorbing introduction to both men and their influence as the two countries experienced revolution.

And toward the end, we do get a look at the promised relationship!

Tom Chaffin is an excellent writer, and the prose in this work of history reads like a novel. “Revolutionary Brothers” is the story of the friendship between Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette. Two very different men, over time they became like brothers. The two of them were instrumental in the forging of two revolutions, and two countries.

Dual biographies are always a tricky business. There is not enough space for the level of detail for each person as in a regular biography, but in this case that is an advantage as Chaffin never gets bogged down in unnecessary facts and it keeps the narrative moving along smoothly. Everyone knows that the young Marquis de Lafayette came to the New World with the French military to help the Americans win their freedom from Great Britain. And most people know that Jefferson was the American representative in France. But the relationship between the two men is not well-known, and this book rectifies that.

For Americans, Lafayette’s life after he left our shores, is generally unknown, and it was very interesting. Jefferson’s time in France is better known, but Chaffin filled in many blanks. This was an excellent book, and I can recommend it heartily.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC and PDF. The opinions are my own.

The fairly plainly written (and I mean that as a compliment) and chock full of details, providing an interesting tale of these two men and their intertwining paths.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the American and French Revolutions and the lives of two key players ... Thomas Jefferson and Marquis de Lafayette. Unlike much history that is well known to Americans, this book offers a unique look into the part of their lives that took place in France after the American Revolution had ended with Lafayette returning to his home and Jefferson becoming the American Ambassador to France. The book covers in great detail their interactions in Paris leading up to and including the French Revolution, and also includes details of Lafayette's return to America near the end of both of their lives including his visit with Jefferson.

As I am a lover of history, I was happy to read this book. A veritable treasure trove of information regarding these two men who were like brothers in the revolution. I always felt like the Marquis de Lafayette was an. honorary American. So I wasn't surprised to read of his dedication to the American cause. A truly interesting book to read. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

So so review of Lafayette and Jefferson. Well enough written this is more of a basic survey than a book which contributes nothing new. There are more interesting works on both men.

Revolutionary Brothers is an interesting comparisons of Lafayette and Jefferson. Lafayette had immense wealth while Jefferson only had the illusion of deep pockets. They were both connessiurs of women. I think Lafayette was more of a dandy than Jefferson and Jefferson was definitely the more qualified statesman. The ending was very abrupt and inconsistent with the writing style. It was also flat.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I was intrigued by the subject of this book as I knew very little about the Marquis de Lafayette. As the author states in the beginning, most cities have parks, streets, squares, etc. named after General Lafayette, but how many of us really know who he is exactly? I know I didn't. It turns out that the Marquis, a forward thinker, had a very interesting life and made his way to America at a the young age of 19. He ingratiated himself with General George Washington and then proved himself in battle. It took a lot of gumption and courage to travel across the Atlantic in search of military adventure. Author Tom Chaffin did his homework in researching Lafayette and his life not only in America, but in France as well. I found it fascinating that Lafayette's wife was a childhood friend of Marie Antoinette, which gave her and her husband easy access to the controversial French court. Chaffin presented so much information, it was overwhelming at times. My biggest complaint about the book, however, was its abrupt ending. I thought I had missed something and took time to reread the last chapter. It would have been nice if the author had written an 'afterword' or 'epilogue' to let us know what ultimately happened to Lafayette and his family--especially after the French revolution. If you are interested in knowing more about the Marquis, this book might be for you, but if you want to read about his later years, you won't find it here

Interesting and well-written biography of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson and their relationship both during and after the Revolutionary War. The book is well-researched and easy to read, although I wish my advanced reader's copy had illustrations or maps to help describe some of the events. I enjoyed the appearance of my favorites, John and Abigail Adams, and their intersection with both Lafayette and Jefferson in Paris after the war, developing the United States' early diplomatic relationship with France; Jefferson and Abigail seem to have had a mutually admiring relationship. The book ends rather abruptly, and disappointingly, during a tour of southern France by Jefferson, without any mention of what happened to both gentlemen after their role as diplomats ended, what happened to Lafayette during the French Revolution, or Jefferson's election as president.

Also: the advanced reader's copy had lots of typographical mistakes in it, apostrophes that were inexplicably located in weird and unusual places, enough that it was distracting to read.