Chapter 20

[Alexander]

THE LAST CHAPTER

[Nancy]

Chapter 20 is entitled Picpus, the name of the cemetery where Lafayette is buried. For a brief period late in life, Lafayette is triumphant as he again gains control of the National Guard, even if it was a symbolic role. However, the freedom and liberties that Louis Phillippe promised to protect, are again eroding away by 1834. Shortly after this, Lafayette falls ill, "His physician, Jules Cloquet, believed that “moral affections” had exerted a “baneful influence” on Lafayette’s health. " Finally, in May 1834, Lafayette passed away. There were no great outpouring of affection in France for Lafayette in France, the French were rather silent on his death which I found unusual until I read the Author's note. It saddens me that France did not celebrate Lafayette 's life as much as America did where his death was mourned and a national state of mourning was declared. I am proud that Americans honored his life when the French did not.

I wouldn't normally discuss the Author's notes but I really appreciated Laura's notes, Laura explains the reason Adrienne selected Picpus for the site of burial, it is where her mother, grandmother and sister were buried after being executed. Laura's description of her arrival to a peaceful political rally in the Place de la Nation, the same place where the blood flowed during the Reign of Terror. "From June 13 to July 28, 1794, the Place de la Nation—known at the time as the Place du Trône Renversé (Place of the Overturned Throne)—had run red with blood as a guillotine erected on the spot claimed 1,306 lives."
I really enjoyed reading about her visit to Picpus where there are stone pillars honoring Lafayette and Gen Pershing, proudly donated by the Benjamin Franklin DAR chapter. Referring to the sanctuary, Laura writes "Carved into the stone were the names, ages, and occupations of every person guillotined at the Place de la Nation, numbered according to the order of their deaths. Adrienne’s grandmother, sister, and mother were numbers 1039, 1040, and 1041 respectively; the Duchesse d’Ayen had watched her mother and daughter beheaded before the blade fell on her own neck.". Such a stark reminder of the bloody Reign of Terror .
But mostly, I love her conversation with the Sister. How Sister Marie-Marthe told her Lafayette is not widely admired in France. His grave has an American flag filing over it and only Americans visit. The closing paragraph explains so much to me, why Lafayette does not get the recognition in France that he gets in the US. "I paused and asked if she had any idea why. She thought for a moment, then gestured to the names on the walls. “The French Revolution was a complicated time,” she said, “and Lafayette was a complicated man. People like simple stories; simple stories get remembered. Lafayette’s story isn’t simple.” I nodded. She was right. As I gathered my belongings and thanked her for her help, I asked if I could make a donation to the sisters as a token of my gratitude. Again, she considered carefully. At length she answered: “No. Thank you, but no. Go back to the United States. Write your book. And tell Lafayette’s story.”"
I really enjoyed this book. I liked Laura's writing style. At times I felt caught up in the story, almost as if I didn't know what the outcome was going to be. It had been a long time since I read about the French Revolution so I forgot how long it went on for and how involved Lafayette was in it. And so I agree with the Sister's assessment, Lafayette was a complicated man in a complicated time.
I think back to the opening of the book where Lafayette grew up in a far-off region that has a fairy tale setting with its own beast and compare that to how he ends up in an uncelebrated grave that is somewhat isolated after having lived an incredible life. I know Lafayette is French, and is in his homeland, but I can't help but think how much more celebrated his life would be had he lived his later life and been buried here in the US. Just my two cents....

[Patti]

I'm so flippin' behind, arrgghh! And I'd been doing so well. 😕

[Patti]

I'm only commenting here after the fact because I always like some sense of closure with the book and the club's reading. It occurred to me this morning that, although I finished reading this book a few weeks back, I had never marked it as read and wondered why. After checking I realized I had wanted to read the Author's Note before commenting, and never got around to it. I did a bit of backtracking first and re-read some passages in the final chapter, and it did not surprise me (considering my overly emotional state these past few days) that I burst into tears in more than a few places. Reading about the disparate reactions to Lafayette's death in France and the United States ... the opening of the Erie Canal ... the 50th anniversary of our nation's founding -- please don't laugh at me, but I was practically sobbing at some of this. And the Author's Note -- well, I'll spare you descriptions of my ugly crying. I know I am an overly emotional person, and I'll make no apology for that. My reasons for the tear-fest were typically all over the place: from the gloominess of the weather here; to regret for Lafayette (colored with great regret for another Founding Figure whose name I don't think I need to mention); to regret what's happening in the country today... and I'll stop trying to explain.

I truly loved this book. I learned and re-learned so much from it. I am still amazed at Lafayette's indomitable spirit and idealism. At his persistence. Far from being a perfect character, he nevertheless seems to have fought for what he believed all his life. I was so touched by his attempt to transform the grounds at La Grange into a little model America. I'm so glad that Auricchio wrote this biography which is in so many ways an homage to the man.

The author's note was just perfect. Her account of her visit to Picpus was incredibly touching. I felt her frustration when she was not able to enter Lafayette's actual burial place, and her determination not to have made the trip to the cemetery in vain. Her remarks to the Sister about the Reign of Terror, etc., were so heart-felt. The Sister's response .... the plea to just go back and write the book and tell Lafayette's story ... was so simple and beautiful.

And it all comes down to "who lives, who dies, who tells, your story," doesn't it? I am positive that Lafayette would have been so very pleased by Laura's telling.

[Nancy]

Well said Patti. I think we all cry a lot these days to be honest. I actually thought the Author’s note was one of the most critical parts of the book. Without it, it seems like this could be just another biography. With the notes, it becomes more personal, there is a need for his story to be told.
Glad you shared your thoughts and insight with us Patti.

[Patti]

Nancy wrote: "Well said Patti. I think we all cry a lot these days to be honest. I actually thought the Author’s note was one of the most critical parts of the book. Without it, it seems like this could be just ..."

Thanks. I just felt the need to do so. :)

[Stephanie]

I loved this biography and also cried recently visisting Picpus Cemetery. Lafayette is so under appreciated in France and the rest of the world, and even here where do much is named after him—more so than Hamilton and I’d argue he made far more difference in the world. An incredible person.