jennywithaz's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite kind of history is irreverantly told history that makes connections to the present, and that is something that Sarah Vowell does extraordinarily well here. Insightful, acerbic and terrifically funny, Vowell's narrative follows the Revolutionary War exploits of the Marquis de Lafayette (most recently of Hamilton fame), a brash French teenager who absconded to America to fight for glory and lofty ideals. I laughed hard, I learned a lot, and I was left wishing that all history books were this entertaining. I can't wait to check out more of this author's work.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author with supplemental voices done by John Slattery, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, and a host of other noteworthies. Vowell's voice is a bit grating at first, but I got used to it quickly and ended up enjoying her narration style quite a lot because the unique quality of her voice added extra value to the comedic effect of her narrative.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author with supplemental voices done by John Slattery, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, and a host of other noteworthies. Vowell's voice is a bit grating at first, but I got used to it quickly and ended up enjoying her narration style quite a lot because the unique quality of her voice added extra value to the comedic effect of her narrative.
missamandamae's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this one! Vowell makes some delightful and funny insights into the life of Lafayette and his contemporaries, and how the man has been revered since the Revolution. Plus, John Slattery performs as Lafayette with a beautiful French accent, and Nick Offerman performs as George Washington and now I want that movie to get made. Great way to follow up reading Ron Chernow's biography on Alexander Hamilton!
lordcheez's review against another edition
4.0
Great funny historical non-fiction overlaid with personal narrative.
ryanofmaryland's review against another edition
4.0
I would have enjoyed it better with a bit less excursus into modern political questions and a bit more about Lafayette's victory lap around the US in 1824.
Still, Vowell is a witty and charming writer and I easily learned a great deal.
Still, Vowell is a witty and charming writer and I easily learned a great deal.
djhobby's review against another edition
3.0
7.2 out of 10 stars.
Lots of great history about the Revolutionary War.
Lots of great history about the Revolutionary War.
cher_n_books's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars - It was really good.
This was the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style. She has a casual narrative that highlights the most interesting parts of history and infuses everything with her clever sarcasm. I look forward to getting around to reading her other works.
I listened to the audiobook which was well made and easily recommended. The author does the majority of the narration, but they also pulled in other big names to narrate historical figures:
John Slattery as the Marquis de Lafayette
Nick Offerman as George Washington
Fred Armisen as Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Bobby Cannavale as Benjamin Franklin
John Hodgman as John Adams
Stephanie March as Evelyn Wotherspoon Wainwight and Linda Williams
Alexis Denisof as The British Leadership
Patton Oswalt as Thomas Jefferson and Sherm
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Favorite Quote: That, to me, is the quintessential experience of living in the United States: constantly worrying whether or not the country is about to fall apart.
First Sentence: How did the Marquis de Lafayette win over the stingiest, crankiest tax protesters in the history of the world?
This was the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style. She has a casual narrative that highlights the most interesting parts of history and infuses everything with her clever sarcasm. I look forward to getting around to reading her other works.
I listened to the audiobook which was well made and easily recommended. The author does the majority of the narration, but they also pulled in other big names to narrate historical figures:
John Slattery as the Marquis de Lafayette
Nick Offerman as George Washington
Fred Armisen as Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Bobby Cannavale as Benjamin Franklin
John Hodgman as John Adams
Stephanie March as Evelyn Wotherspoon Wainwight and Linda Williams
Alexis Denisof as The British Leadership
Patton Oswalt as Thomas Jefferson and Sherm
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: That, to me, is the quintessential experience of living in the United States: constantly worrying whether or not the country is about to fall apart.
First Sentence: How did the Marquis de Lafayette win over the stingiest, crankiest tax protesters in the history of the world?
tcamera's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I had started seeing word about it on several must read lists- which always make me somewhat suspect but I am glad I out aside my suspicious nature and picked this book up. Besides being a really in depth look at the 19 year old French nobleman who defied a king and fought for the Americans, it is a good look at how the Franco-American alliance actually helped win the war. All along, Vowell's sharp wit jumps off the page as she "takes the piss" out of people like Washington, Rochambeau, Howe, and others and uses the lessons of the past to speak about the current political situation today.
deepfreezebatman's review against another edition
3.0
My first Sarah Vowell (audiobook). I love her style, but feel like I need a primer on the Revolutionary War to really appreciate this book. Nevertheless, it was an overwhelmingly fascinating place to start.
hekate24's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting and great for a car trip. Only reason it's not five stars is I wanted to know more about his return to America as an old man.