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  • Hero of Two Worlds

  • The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution
  • By: Mike Duncan
  • Narrated by: Mike Duncan
  • Length: 17 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (378 ratings)
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Hero of Two Worlds

By: Mike Duncan
Narrated by: Mike Duncan
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Summary

From the best-selling 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 50 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.

©2021 Mike Duncan (P)2021 PublicAffairs
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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)

"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)

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Great for history enthusiasts

Listened to this because I’m a fan of Mike Duncan’s Revolutions Podcast. This book is fascinating and covers so many historical events. Would highly recommend.

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Another masterpiece.

Mike Duncan yet again makes me truly love history. Bringing this unique historical character to life, beautifully underlining the flaws and amazing personality of the man who captivated France and America for so long. His small digs and references from his Revolutions-podcast, brings out a smile, and his calm demeanor makes the book relaxing and never tiresome.
I adore everything this man makes, and knowing how thorough he is with his sources and readings, you come out with a true appreciation of this almost mythical figure of two worlds.

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Mike Duncan masterclass

Perfect! The only thing it’s missing is the swell of the Revolutions podcast theme song.

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love it

Mike duncan has done it again, another fantastic novel. It's a really interesting book, learnt loads and the performance by Mike is excellent 👌

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Fascinating and brilliantly told

Mike Duncan doesn’t disappoint with this book. As someone with very little knowledge of the American revolution and almost no knowledge of Lafayette, I found myself enthralled in his life and the world around him.

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Brilliant. As Usual.

If you’re a Mike Duncan fan, you’re in for a treat. if this is your first audio production of his, buckle up, you’re in for a ride.

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Brilliant

Just an amazing story by an amazing story teller... Does not get boring for a moment.

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not a remix of his podcast but new and interesting

I've enjoyed Duncan's various podcasts and I'm pleased he chose Lafayette for this book as he often mentioned the contrast of his role and fortunes in the American and French revolutions podcasts. Here multiple events and key figures pass through and interact with Lafayette's adventures but the focus remains very much on Lafayette which is admirable but sometimes frustrating when the likes of Napoleon "guest star" in the narrative and their role seems diminished (Napoleon features for about 1 hour in the book). But this is a biography about Lafayette so it's overall a good thing that events he's not so strongly mixed up in are left out.
I think I found his role in the French revolution, and the events following, the most interesting as I'm least familiar with them.
I was also unaware of how easily Lafayette could have seized power for himself on a couple of occasions and while it seems he's criticised for not doing so, I'd argue it was his greatest act (even if it lead to others seizing such power).
For those worried this may add nothing new to those who've listened to Duncan's "revolutions" podcast, I'd tell you not to worry. This is a completely novel look at events covered in the podcast with much more detail surrounding Lafayette's life from birth to death and as I've mentioned, the focus/viewpoint is always from that which Lafayette experienced/was involved in.
Hopefully the author will continue to write histories in this style now his podcast has ended.

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Brilliant story, brilliantly written and read

I admit to being a fan of the Revolutions podcast and love the way Mike Duncan tells a story.

The story of this hero, as deserving of a stage show as was Hamilton, is a simply beautiful tale that weaves through history that many will have encountered before, placing one man amongst so much history. Being guided through so many decades was a joy.. excellent book

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Brilliant and highly recommended

A wonderful book which enlightens and entertains. What an amazing character Lafayette was. He has much to teach our modern world.

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