In a narrative both panoramic and intimate, Tom Chaffin captures the four-decade friendship of Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette.
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 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.
Available in print, electronic and audio formats. A History Book Club Main Selection
Praise for Revolutionary Brothers:
“A gripping narrative that offers a revelatory perspective on the combined origins of two nations . . . compelling drama and instructive history.”
—The Wall Street Journal
“A compelling narrative of an epic―and unlikely―friendship from the Enlightenment era, enlivened by bracing plot-turns and vividly-drawn characters…a fascinating read.”
―Walter S. Isaacson, bestselling author of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
“[A] compulsively readable deep dive.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
“Rich in narrative detail…for those who enjoy their history chock-full of action and anecdotes.”
—The American Scholar
“Sifting through mountains of research material in both the U.S. and France, Chaffin has emerged with a text packed with facts and insights into both men as well as the tumultuous times in which they lived. A must-have in the libraries of those who love this period and/or admire these two iconic historical figures.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A comprehensive history of a long, mutually rewarding friendship. . . . This exceedingly well-written chronicle will please all history lovers.”
—Library Journal
“Rich in narrative detail…for those who enjoy their history chock-full of action and anecdotes.”
—The American Scholar
“The period covered by this book was as momentous as any in the history of France or the US…an insightful dual biography.” —Booklist
“A dual biography, exquisite in its execution, that opens wonderful old trapdoors connecting two great nations. In Chaffin’s deft hands, we see how this dynamic duo literally made history together, shaping the raw material of a young nation while testing the possibilities―and limits―of a trans-Atlantic friendship that was lasting and true.”
―Hampton Sides, bestselling author of Blood and Thunder and On Desperate Ground
“Beautifully constructed and impressively balanced in its judgements on both men…a gripping read throughout.” ―Munro Price, historian and award-winning author of The Road from Versailles
”A remarkable story of two men and two revolutions…original and important…written with flair and grace.”
―Frank Cogliano, professor and author of Empire of Liberty: Thomas Jefferson’s Foreign Policy
“Tom Chaffin’s well-told tale of two revolutions centers on the fascinating, sometimes intersecting careers of Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette…Chaffin is a reliable and engaging guide as he takes us on a page-turning journey through tumultuous times.”
―Peter S. Onuf, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of History, Emeritus, University of Virginia
“The key roles of two men who helped launch two revolutions that reshaped the Atlantic world in 1776 and 1789 and their friendship over almost half a century have found a worthy historian in Tom Chaffin…[a] dramatic story.”
―Professor James M. McPherson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom
“Gripping. . . Chaffin maintains narrative drive with short, brisk chapters that typically bounce back and forth between his two subjects. . . . lively writing.”
—The Colonial Review
“A stirring and adventurous romp through both revolutionary America and France . . . Revolutionary Brothersis a rewarding read that lifts the curtain on a rich cast of characters on a larger than life stage, and Chaffin skillfully captures the tumult, passion, and convictions of these men and women, American and French, patriots all.”
—Open Letters Review