Statue in search of a pedestal: A biography of the Marquis de Lafayette

by Noel B. Gerson

An impressive biography of the Marquis de Lafayette – rebel, reformist, revolutionary.An ideal book for readers who wish to find out more about the remarkable life of the French nobleman who fought in the American Revolutionary War and was hailed a hero on both sides of the Atlantic.“Liberty for all is worth any sacrifice.” So said Gilbert Motier de Lafayette, the French visionary who championed freedom and equality, but whose devotion to the cause of democratic government came at a great personal sacrifice.Born into one of the oldest and most honorable aristocratic families in France, as a teenager the idealistic Lafayette volunteered to fight under George Washington for America’s independence in the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, a decisive victory which brought him lasting military renown and made him one of the true heroes of the American Revolution.A natural leader of men, both on and off the battlefield, as commander of France’s National Guard Lafayette risked his own life to save those of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution. Yet the role ultimately placed him in a position of conflict between the monarchy and the nobility, and, branded “a traitor to his class,” he was forced to flee the country he loved and had served with unselfish distinction.Captured and imprisoned in the Austrian fortress of Olmütz for five years – his devoted wife Adrienne choosing to join him in captivity – Lafayette returned to France after Napoleon Bonaparte secured his release in 1797, though he refused to participate in Napoleon’s dictatorial government.Elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1818 following two decades in political exile, Lafayette continued to fight for freedom of speech, press, assemblage, and worship, arguing that these were rights that belonged to all people and could not rightly be taken from them by any government.Drawing on contemporary material, including private letters and Lafayette’s own memoirs, Noel B. Gerson paints a vivid picture of a man of physical and moral courage, whose fight for the cause of liberty earned him the title the “Hero of Two Worlds”.Statue in Search of a Pedestal is an engrossing biography of the Marquis de Lafayette’s lifelong quest to protect the principles of democracy, told through the lens of the three revolutions he participated the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Revolution of 1830.

Genres: History, Biography

244 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Noel Bertram Gerson (1913-1988) was an American author who wrote 325 books, including several best sellers, among them two screenplay novelizations penned under the pseudonym Samuel Edwards, The Naked Maja, and 55 Days at Peking.

Aside from "Samuel Edwards", which would seem to have been his dedicated by-line for tie-in work, Gerson used the following nine pseudonyms in addition to his own name: Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Dana Fuller Ross; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan.

Reviews

[Richard Subber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a modestly experienced reader of Lafayette biographies, so I’ll acknowledge that Gerson entertains by re-stating the obvious: Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier de la Fayette was a national, military, political and, indeed, a paternal hero to millions in America and France during the American and (several) French revolutions.

There is no doubt that, despite the fact that he was one of the richest French nobles of his time, he was publicly and privately dedicated to republican government and a social/economic order that was far more egalitarian than the monarchical and aristocratic structures that prevailed.

Was Lafayette a great man? Gerson, like many of his biographers, says yes. Lafayette was a courageous battlefield leader, he was an enlightened manorial lord who enhanced the lives of his peasants, and he was both outspoken and fearless, repeatedly, in literally dangerous political situations for a couple decades in Revolutionary and Napoleonic France. Gerson, like other Lafayette biographers, repeatedly attests to these lifelong characteristics of the man Americans called “our Marquis.”

I feel obliged to call attention to some countervailing factors that Gerson describes but does not adequately interpret in Statue in Search of a Pedestal.

Lafayette put his money where his mouth was. He repeatedly used his great personal wealth to pay and outfit the troops he commanded, when government funds and supplies ran low. I suggest a case could be made that the Marquis, almost uniquely among American commanders, paid for his military success in the Revolutionary War. Throughout the war, the options and operations of colonial commanders were significantly hindered by short funds and short supplies. If Lafayette had not been able to pay, feed, clothe and arm his troops with his personal resources, could he have been as winning a general as he was? I suspect the answer is “No.”

Some biographers refer to Lafayette as the “victor” at Yorktown in 1781. Gerson says that Lafayette’s campaigning in Virginia in the spring and summer of 1781 “was largely responsible for the American victory at Yorktown.” Lafayette was not the only American general at Yorktown, and he wasn’t the only French general; in fact, it was manifestly an American and French victory at Yorktown. Lafayette did use his small force to isolate Cornwallis in Yorktown, but he had to wait until Washington, Rochambeau, de Grasse and others arrived with sufficient land and naval forces before he participated in the final assaults.

In France he repeatedly declined to step up to the plate and take executive leadership, during the revolutionary and Napoleonic convulsions, when the French people and the contentious military/political factions would have handed the throne or the presidency of France to him on a velvet pillow. The Marquis repeatedly risked his life to defuse explosive situations by his personal, courageous intervention. However, Gerson fastidiously details Lafayette’s repeated reluctance to take the final step and take control when, arguably, he could have stabilized dangerous situations, and forestalled or prevented catastrophic consequences, by doing so. Lafayette wasn’t responsible for the violence, but, time after time, he left a void that was unfortunately filled by lesser men.

Was Lafayette a great man? Yes. A successful general? Yes. Was he a really lucky guy? Yes. Did he and his reputation benefit immensely from great wealth and fortuitous circumstance? Yes. Did he live up to his potential in serving France and the French nation? Maybe not.

For my taste, Statue in Search of a Pedestal is a breezy and dispensable biography of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de la Fayette. Gerson was a prolific writer (325 books during his lifetime). This one is not one of his well-remembered works. It is a quick and easy read, especially if the absence of footnotes doesn’t bother you.

Read more of my book reviews and poems here:
www.richardsubber.com

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Biography of the Marquis De Lafayette

Gilbert de Lafayette was ahead of his time in history. He was a brilliant leader and participated in many battles here in America to help win our independence from Great Britain. I think that the book was well written, and it portrays Lafayette through many of his experiences in France under both the King Louis the XVI Napoleon Bonaparte, King Louis 18th and Charles X. The house of the Bourbons kept France in the dark ages when America was young and growing strong. Gilbert Lafayette was for women voting rights freedom of religion and education for people living in France and America.

[William Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insight and understanding France and the United States

A very readable biography of a man personifying Frame and the United States his support from the US after the French Revolution may have been unique.

[John Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lafayette, a leader of integrity

As far as I know, the author has treated an exceptional man with honesty. Lafayette wasn't interested in leadership for his personal advancement, he truly wanted the people to have their God-given rights.

[John L Shasteen]

Fighter for freedom

I liked the personal facts good and not so flattering being written along with the French and American history. I would highly recommend this to readers of history.

[Gena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, readable biography of one of my favorite historical figures. It could have benefited from more detailed footnotes, though. It cites clips from some letters that I would dearly love to find to read the whole.