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Hero of Two Worlds

The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution

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Hero of Two Worlds

By: Mike Duncan
Narrated by: Mike Duncan
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About this listen

 From the bestselling author of The Storm Before the Storm and host of the Revolutions podcast comes the thrilling story of the Marquis de Lafayette’s lifelong quest to defend the principles of liberty and equality

Few in history can match the revolutionary career of the Marquis de Lafayette. Over fifty incredible years at the heart of the Age of Revolution, he fought courageously on both sides of the Atlantic. He was a soldier, statesman, idealist, philanthropist, and abolitionist.

As a teenager, Lafayette ran away from France to join the American Revolution. Returning home a national hero, he helped launch the French Revolution, eventually spending five years locked in dungeon prisons. After his release, Lafayette sparred with Napoleon, joined an underground conspiracy to overthrow King Louis XVIII, and became an international symbol of liberty. Finally, as a revered elder statesman, he was instrumental in the overthrow of the Bourbon Dynasty in the Revolution of 1830.

From enthusiastic youth to world-weary old age, from the pinnacle of glory to the depths of despair, Lafayette never stopped fighting for the rights of all mankind. His remarkable life is the story of where we come from, and an inspiration to defend the ideals he held dear. Americas Europe France Historical Revolution & Founding United States French Revolution Military War Royalty Inspiring

Critic Reviews

“Comprehensive and accessible…. Duncan marshals a wealth of information into a crisp and readable narrative. This sympathetic portrait illuminates the complexities of Lafayette and his revolutionary era.”—Publishers Weekly
"All listeners of The History of Rome and Revolutions – as well as readers of The Storm Before The Storm -- know the joy of Mike Duncan guiding them through epic, operatic moments in western history. Now Duncan has zeroed in on his perfect subject, a towering figure through whom Duncan can explore and even upend the birth of political liberalism. Duncan has reintroduced the Marquis de Lafayette for a whole new generation, bringing him to life with all his passions, contradictions and hypocrisies. Never mind the Broadway musicals, here's the Hero of Two Worlds." —Spencer Ackerman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Reign of Terror: How The 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump
"Mike Duncan's ability to weave a rich and compelling story is on full display in Hero of Two Worlds. He takes the reader on a gripping roller-coaster ride that follows the Marquis de Lafayette's fortunes through decades of victory, defeat, and revolution on two continents… Duncan has an exceptional eye for both human potential and human fallibility, grasping the qualities that make figures like Lafayette real, three-dimensional people, simultaneously victims of circumstance and active participants driving forward the course of history. Hero of Two Worlds is biography and narrative at its best, an informative page-turner crafted by a master of historical storytelling."—Patrick Wyman, creator of Tides of History and author of The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World
"I first learned of Mike Duncan's work when a prominent politician told me he'd been addicted to his podcast on the French Revolution, and found it startlingly relevant in 2021. Duncan's work is a reminder that history can also be a gripping yarn full of compelling characters, and in Hero of Two Worlds he brings alive one of the great characters of American history."—Ben Smith, New York Times
“Mike Duncan has dug deep into the world of revolutions, and the richness of detail in this book is beguiling. But Mike’s superpower is his storytelling skill. Hero Of Two Worlds hooks you from page one with humor, a sly perspective and a page turning narrative drive worthy of a life like Lafayette’s.”—Rian Johnson, award-winning filmmaker
All stars
Most relevant
Wow. Such an amazing story. So well told.
I'd heard of the Marquis de Lafayette while learning about the French revolution. Now I feel like I know him.

Wow.

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As our own era becomes more and more polarised, Lafayette stands as a helpful example of someone who tried to hold the sane centre.

Mike Duncan makes history accessible like few others, so he is an excellent guide.

Enjoy!

A man who tried to hold the sane centre

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Loved it, fascinating from start to finish. Lafayette had such an action packed life and met all the key players in his era - Washington, Hamilton, Louis XVI, Napoleon, Louis XVIII, even Simon Bolivar got a few letters.... Plus he was neck deep in 3 different revolutions. There's even a prison break subplot. Sometimes I had to stop to remind myself this was real rather than fictional....

What a rollercoaster life!

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Great biography by the producer of the famous History of Rome and Revolutions podcasts. Great to hear how he weaves ideas from those two extraordinary podcasts into the story of someone who played a part in some of the influential moments of European and US history.

Great story of an extraordinary figure

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A great yarn leaving the two sides of the marguis’ circumstances behaviour and morals exposed.

Intriguing

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Mike's ability to bring the history alive is incredible, he does so with balance, precision and passion. This book was able to show how incredible Lafayette was, without shying away from his many flaws.

another incredible book by Mike Duncan

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Another superbly told and gripping read from the author of Storm before the Storm and host of legendary podcasts the History of Rome and Revolutions. Duncan's facility for narrative and ability to summarise complex history in an accessible way make all his writing entertaining and educational. Another highly recommended effort.

Mike nails it again.

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A detailed review of one man's life and journey through incredible times. Duncan brings to life tumultuous times by going deep into the life of one man who stood by his principles as the world was in flux. I thoroughly enjoyed this deep dive and the way historical events were seen through the personal lense of La Fayette.

Incredible historic times made real

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Just another thoroughly enjoyable book from the one and only Mike Duncan. He does the best analysis and brings together a great narrative with historical FAQs. I'll follow along any day.

Mike does it again!

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This is a wonderful book. Mike’s words had me in tears. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Recommend it highly!

Long awaited and worth every minute

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