In this long-overdue history of Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette, acclaimed French author Gonzague Saint Brisrecounts Lafayette's invaluable contributions to the American War of Independence and, later, the French Revolution of 1789. The first study of Lafayette to appear in almost ten years, Saint Bris' new volumerecounts the young Lafayette's personal friendship with George Washington, who went so far as to referto Lafayette as his “adopted son,” and his pivotal role as Washington's aide-de-camp in helping establishthe fledgling American nation. <br /><br />Lafayette's presence at the British surrender at Yorktown is a stark reminder of just how closely ourforefather's victory hinged on the help of our French allies, who were roused into action by Lafayettehimself. equally absorbing and less well known is Lafayette's idealistic but naive efforts to plant thefruits of the American-style democracy he so admired in the unreceptive soil of his homeland.