Revolutionary Brothers
My Rating: 4
Genre: History/Nonfiction
Format: eARC*
Publication Date: November 21, 2019
Author: Tom Chaffin
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Revolutionary Brothers Blurb
The bond linking Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette constituted a singularly extraordinary friendship, one which played a key role in the making of two revolutions—and two nations. The author of the Declaration of Independence first met Lafayette in 1781, when the young French-born general was dispatched to Virginia to assist Jefferson, then the governor, in fighting off the British. The charismatic Lafayette, hungry for glory on the battlefield, could not have seemed more different from Jefferson, the reserved and philosophical statesman. But when Jefferson, a newly-appointed diplomat, moved to Paris three years later, speaking little French and in need of a diplomatic partner, their friendship began in earnest.
As Lafayette opened doors in Paris and Versailles for the neophyte emissary, so too did Jefferson stand by Lafayette as the Frenchman became inexorably drawn into the maelstrom of his country’s revolution. The Virginian offered counsel to the young aristocrat as he drafted The Declaration of the Rights of Man and remained a firm supporter of the French Revolution, even after he returned to America in 1789. But Jefferson soon learned that the French Revolution’s excesses had led to the persecution of Lafayette and his family. By 1792, the upheaval had rendered him a man without a country, locked away in a succession of Austrian and Prussian prisons. The burden fell on Jefferson—and Lafayette’s other friends, including Alexander Hamilton’s sister-in-law Angelica Schuyler Church —to win his release. The two would not see each other again until 1824, in a powerful and emotional reunion at Jefferson’s Monticello.
Steeped in primary sources, Revolutionary Brothers casts fresh light on this remarkable, often complicated, friendship of two extraordinary men.
Revolutionary Brothers Review
As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:
- 1 star: Did not finish
- 2 Stars: Finished but I do not recommend
- 3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
- 4 Stars: Loved this book!
- 5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
My star ratings are also based also genre based. I compare all books with books of the same genre. While I would love to believe that my love of books in general transcends all bias, there are genres I prefer over others.
I’m human.
Example: If I read a mystery novel and think it deserves a 5-star rating, then I have compared it to other mystery books, and determined it to be one of my absolute favorites. The unputdownable mystery.
This will hopefully keep me from comparing Outlander, a personal obsession of mine, with the experience of reading The Hate You Give. Both 5 star books for me, but completely and totally different. I couldn’t even try to rate them against each other, so I don’t. Makes my life easier. 🙂
My Thoughts
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 these two men’s 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 to fight for independence in France.
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.
Conclusion
As with any historical book centered around a war, there are some slow passages filled with military strategies and battle outcomes; however, Revolutionary Brothers turns out to be a deeply personal story about the relationship between two well known figures of the past.
*Special thanks to Tom Chaffin and St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of Revolutionary Brothers in exchange for an honest review.
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