Lafayette in Two Worlds: Public Cultures and Personal Identities in an Age of Revolutions.

Abstract

in Two Worlds: Public Cultures and Personal Identities in an Age of Revolutions. By Lloyd Kramer. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1996. Pp. xii, 345. Illustrations. Cloth $39.95; paper $19.95.) had a truly remarkable life. Best known for playing key roles in both American and French revolutions, returned from his Austrian captivity in 1799 to become center of an international network of liberals. He capped this latter career with his pivotal involvement in 1830 French Revolution, ensuring and legitimating Louis Phillipe's peaceful ascension to throne of France. In this valuable book, Lloyd focuses on last thirty years of Lafayette's life, when he served as intellectual mediator and political symbol for liberals on both sides of Atlantic. Initially, it must be noted begins his study of with a pair of exceedingly unusual chapters. Fortunately, they are both brief. correctly notes for the American Revolution was definitive experience of his life (22). Yet devotes just twelve pages to those heroic events, finding Lafayette's significance in serving as an eminent 'other' whose praise and support validated Revolution for Americans (19). Likewise, finds Lafayette's more controversial role in French Revolution worthy of only a few pages. Instead of first forty-three years of Lafayette's life, these opening chapters set forth notion was a text. claims to work on assumption that biographical narratives come closer to historical realities when they resemble cubist paintings (8). To construct form of art, pays homage to worst excesses of trendy literary theory. Chapter two is titled a Dumbbell or a Shredded Text? (131). How about neither? Was not a historical actor, doing best he could with enormous sincerity and consistency, and accomplishing more in his lifetime than a convention full of pretentious academics? Kramer's own view of is muddled by his introductory pages. Lafayette (in quotation marks), the man who flourished as a text, self consciously adjusted his adroitly enough to remain a best-seller (33). Did Lafayette know he was a living in overlapping 'worlds' (12)? Kramer's subject becomes a pale shadow of reality as hostile readers of 'Lafayette' unraveled text (34). It is Kramer's begins to unravel, as his transformation of into a contradicts rest of book, which does a wonderful job presenting human. The early effort to negate Lafayette's humanity is inexplicable, unless intends to construct a narrative of Kramer as postmodern historian. recovers from contagion of literary theory and rest of book settles into a solid and fascinating examination of Lafayette's intellectual life. comes alive to modem reader as a dedicated idealist and political activist and as a very good man who remained true to his beliefs and his friends. began his second career as intellectual mediator in opposition to Napoleon's government. For thirty years, his home at La Grange served as a vital transit point for liberals from throughout Europe fighting for political reform and seeking allies in a myriad of struggles. Kramer, following on John Stuart Mill's observation was the living representative of whatever was best and purest in spirit of Enlightenment (7), perceives as embodiment of eighteenthcentury ideas and most effective defender of natural rights. Yet also comes across as one of most positive and forwardlooking men of his age. …