An excellent biography of my current city’s namesake. It is amazing that he was involved in three major revolutions and managed to stay alive during some very dangerous times. His abolitionism makes him look good in retrospect. Despite his upper class upbringing, he seemed to care about people in general. Quite rare.

As far as podcasts go, The History of Rome was something of a classic, but creator Mike Duncan would not rest on his laurels, however, and followed that up with Revolutions, where he alludes more than once to his autobiography of Lafayette, Hero of Two Worlds, released August 2021. Hero of Two Worlds tells the story of the Marquis de Lafayette, who came to the American colonies to fight in the War of Independence, and would eventually lead France further into the conflict. However, Lafayette was nineteen years old when he arrived in Virginia, and he survived the war, which meant he had a long life to live after, through the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Duncan’s biography aims to cover all of it.

The emphasis on the later life of Lafayette does not detract from a detailed account of the action Lafayette saw in America, though. The friendships that rose up with figures like Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and especially George Washington move to fore early, often with quotations from personal letters, and shape Lafayette in the form of a surrogate family. Washington, in particular, appears as an unexpected father figure, and Duncan emphasizes “unexpected,” portraying a sometimes awkward relationship between Washington and Lafayette, even though readers with a general knowledge of Washington’s inability to have his own children may wonder how unintentional it would have been for Washington to encourage a padawan.

But while awkward, Duncan’s Lafayette focuses his energies on political and social causes and refuses to let social ineptitude get in the way. This quality may be absent in more eye-catching depictions, think Daveed Diggs in Hamilton, but Duncan once again uses letters from Lafayette’s contemporaries, notably Marie Antoinette, to come to this conclusion. The key figures in ancien regime France escape my American educated memory, but notable allies and later kings of France post-Louis XVI receive early introductions as Lafayette would have met them in his youth. Duncan ascribes a George McFly-Biff Tannen level of pettiness to the relationships Lafayette developed with Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Louis XVIII (who was XVI’s brother), and Charles X. Yet, Lafayette has no time for politics; he’s too busy finding new ways to wear his heart on his sleeve. While this might go a long way to explain the Bourbons’ later dislike of Lafayette, there’s still the historical tradition of a dashing cavalier surrounding Lafayette. There’s a reason why Lafayette’s, and not Baron von Steuben’s, modern cultural avatar is a wisecracking rapper.

Focusing on individual character traits will be no surprise to listeners of Duncan’s podcasts, though, nor will his decision to stray away from the minutiae and horrors of battle. Still, an appreciation for the mortality of infection gives one more sympathy for Lafayette’s wound at the Battle of the Brandywine. Duncan does provide the grimy details, and gets the scoop, on Lafayette through and after the Napoleonic Wars. A lot of time is spent with Lafayette and his comrades in prison. The awful, starving conditions are described, and it’s ascribed to hostility to the imperial Europeans toward a republican liberator. Additionally, once released from prison, the tenderness of Lafayette toward his myriad of children and grandchildren.

Perhaps most satisfying is Lafayette’s return to America for a victory lap. The war-torn revolutionary gets a hero’s welcome in America, where towns, counties, and innumerable monuments are named after him, so maybe I can’t quite see the wide-eyed idealist Duncan describes for the equestrian statues. But there is a ton of information contained here, so don’t be surprised if Duncan writes the Very Short Introduction.

A delightful biography of Lafayette, a man who many have come to know of thanks to the Hamilton musical. This biography takes you through his life in an easy to read but very knowledgeable way that isn't too intimidating for those who don't read history biographies often. This book is a must read for anyone who is wanting to know more about America's favorite fighting French man.

My second biography on Lafayette, and definitely my favorite of the two I've read.

Structure/Formatting 4.5/5
I love a chronological history book, and the structure and flow of this worked very well for me. One thing I was sad about was the lack of photos! I love seeing what photos are chosen to be included in books (and which artist's depictions), but this gave me none of that.

Thoroughness of Research 4.5/5
I would have loved a new record set or new deep-dive into an old record set, but otherwise this was very well researched and used a lot of primary sources. I also have some new history books to check out to learn more about the period.

Storytelling 5/5
This was such a great, easy read. Even for the parts where I knew what was going to happen next, I needed to keep reading to find out.

Enjoyment 5/5
This was such a fun one. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about "America's favorite fighting Frenchman."

Prior Knowledge Needed 4/5
I am fairly well read on the American Revolution at this point, but my knowledge on the French Revolution is fairly minimal. This book did a fantastic job of breaking down the pieces of the war relevant to Lafayette in a way that, while I may still not understand the whole war, I understood his role in it. If you've seen Hamilton, you probably know enough of the American Revolution to understand the pieces mentioned in that section of the book. :-)

I'm a big fan of Lafayette, so I was drawn in to this book. It tells Lafayette's story in the U.S. and France and his unique contributions to both. He was a fascinating individual. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more.

Hero of Two Worlds by Mike Duncan is a great nonfiction/historical biography of the fascinating figure, the Marquis de Lafayette. I loved this one.

I have always been fascinated by Lafayette, heck I have even stumbled upon several societies that revolve around his history and legacy and all of this research has only poured fuel onto that fire. Obviously, I was super excited to be able to read more about this complicated, intricate, and fascinating larger than life historical figure.

The author clearly has done his research, and it most certainly shows in his presentation. Lafayette was so many things for so many groups/causes. He has incredible highs and lows in his life, contributed to many ideals and causes, and placed himself into many a precarious situation during these revolutions. Was he perfect? Nope. But despite his flaws, imperfections, and mistakes, he believed in what he supported, and the world was forever altered and changed because of it.

An excellent biography for an excellent figure.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Public Affairs/Perseus Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Biographies are a fascinating genre to read for a multitude of audiences. For the general reader it gives a story of an individual and their experiences throughout their time. This can also provide general readers an escape from their own busy or chaotic lives or even answers to problems they may be facing. Academic and/or scholarly readers benefit from biographies as it helps show human nature within the context of a time period through the eyes of an individual and their interaction with it. Biographies also provide the scholar an idea of the time period under study as well. Duncan has managed to cover these "two worlds" in his biography of the Marquis de Lafayette. The general reader is able to experience the rise of this gifted military leader and his numerous exploits on the battlefield. The academic on the other hand will be given access to the "Age of Revolutions" from it's chief participant in both the American Revolution and the French Revolution. I would highly recommend this phenomenal work to anyone wishing to learn more about this unique character in revolutionary history.

"The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution" by Mike Duncan
Release Date: 8.24.2021


What a great read! Being obsessed with American history and the musical, "Hamilton," I am always looking for new books to expand my knowledge.

At 19, the Marquis de Lafayette played a large role in the American Revolution, providing money, leadership, and brains to defeat the British.

His fight did not stop once returning to France. The Marquis de Lafayette played a key role during the French Revolution. At 74, he was involved in the Bourbon Dynasty during the Revolution of 1830!

The writing brought this hero's story to life. Conversational in tone, I was captivated in reading more about his life and involvement in not one, not two, but three revolutions!!

Thank you to @netgalley, for the opportunity to read for an honest review.

#bookstagrammer #bookstagram #americanhistory #frenchhistory #readersofinstagram #biographies #biographies2021 #2021bookreleases #marquisdelafayette #herooftwoworlds #mikeduncan #booknerd #

biography, American-rev-war, French-revolution, France, friendship, family-dynamics, colonial-America, heroism, disgrace, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture*****

This man of principles at every age was shaped by his environment as well as his choices. The publisher's blurb is a good overview of this *warts and all* biography. I found the writing style to be quite engaging and not at all the dry (and often misogynistic) manner commonly used regarding historical personages. Shame on me as a former American Rev War re-enactor that I had not known the man's first name before now (Gilbert) nor had any notion of what the man did after leaving the western hemisphere. Of course I learned a lot, but I am surprised to relate that I really enjoyed reading this book!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Perseus Books, PublicAffairs via NetGalley. Thank you!

An outstanding biography on a true hero who not only fought for America’s freedom, but also for his country’s freedom from a feudal monarchy. The story was well written, with great character development. The story made you feel as if you were there witnessing it. The author did a great job of ensuring he provided all the facts and faults of the great hero of the American Revolution! A truly inspirational novel and a must read!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

We live in an age when many adults and youth have limited knowledge of our existing government and almost no understanding of the American Revolution. Popular culture recently made topics like Alexander Hamilton, John Adams and General George Washington’s spy network en vogue. Hopefully this will lead to more projects that are accessible to a greater number of Americans so they can learn more about the great historical figures of the Founding era. Mike Duncan brings one intriguing character to life in his upcoming book Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution.

Hero of Two Worlds details Lafayette’s life from his birth in 1757 to death in 1834 and several revolutions in between. Lafayette was orphaned at a young age leaving him a parentless, but extraordinarily wealthy and privileged noble. He married while still a teenager. In order to chase a grand military career he essentially ran away to America to join the Patriot cause when he was barely 19. Lafayette served as a Major General in the Continental Army and would end up developing a familial bond with General Washington that would span multiple generations. He also maintained close relationships with the country’s most prodigious Founders like Thomas Jefferson.

After the American Revolution, Lafayette returned to France and endured a rollercoaster of highs and lows as the country flirted with abandoning its own monarchical system and implementing a republican government. He was a key player in the highest levels of military and civil government and enjoyed immense popularity for most of his political life. This could not spare him from the brutality of France’s Jacobin revolution and he and his family ended up in an Austrian prison for several years. He would eventually return to France and rebuild his life, always hopeful that his dreams of a French republican revolution would be realized. Although there were several incremental government reforms over the thirty years he lived after his imprisonment, France did not become the constitutional republic he hoped it would be.

While the Hero of Two Worlds celebrates Lafayette’s amazing life and success, there is a certain sadness to the book. His status as a hero of the American Revolution is probably all but forgotten in the U.S. except among historians and Revolutionary War enthusiasts. Duncan also seems to suggest that Lafayette did not quite live up to the high expectations of his countrymen and the American Founders who mentored and supported him throughout his lifetime. An offer from Thomas Jefferson to be the governor of the newly acquired Louisiana may have provided an opportunity to further develop Lafayette’s diplomatic and political skills so that he could help marshal the desire for revolution in France into lasting change. After several years in prison that had a deleterious effect on his wife’s health, Lafayette was unable to accept the position. One can only wonder what might have been if he did.

Lafayette led a fascinating life, but Duncan does it an incredible justice in his retelling of it. According to the acknowledgements, he lived in France for nearly three years researching the book and it shows. Hero of Two Worlds includes an extraordinary amount of detail about Lafayette, his time in America, and the role he played in the political upheaval in France during his lifetime. It would have been hard to make the story boring, but Duncan has an engaging writing style that weaves a dry humor into a fairly complex work of historical nonfiction.

Hero of Two Worlds will likely be of interest to a diverse audience. Any student of the Revolutionary War will put it on their must read list as soon as it is released. It would also have obvious appeal to professional and amatuer historians. The nature of the French political culture and Duncan’s writing style may engage readers well beyond these traditional audiences. The vivid details about Lafayette’s early life, dramatic departure for America, and service in the Revolutionary War grab readers early on and make you want to keep reading to see how Lafayette’s life unfolds. The brutality of the French attempts at revolution, particularly when set against the backdrop of the comparatively mild American Revolution, is a story within itself. The book was simply hard to put down.