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

Publisher's 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

Simply outstanding

One of the best nonfiction audiobooks I’ve listened to in years. No surprise to me since I’ve been listening to the author’s outstanding podcast for years. This is laser focused on Lafayette narrative history with great narrative drive. It would help the reader to have some context about French political & economic history, but that is not necessary to enjoy & to learn much from this book.

An Intricate and Personal Story Set Within an Often Simplified and Grandiose Era

Duncan’s “Hero of Two Worlds” succeeds on a variety of fronts, but the most notable of these is the novel’s ability to simultaneously exist as an enthralling account of both the American and French revolutions, and the story of a simple man’s life; flaws, failures and shortcoming notwithstanding. Duncan’s skill as a veteran podcaster shines through here, with his witty commentary and perfectly tuned inflection never once allowing the listener to become disengaged with the story. An excellent listen, an excellent book, and nothing less than what long-time fans expect from Mr. The History of Rome.

amazing stuff as always from Mike Duncan

engrossing from beginning to end, this book shows why Lafayette is such an interesting person, while never failing to show his quirks and faults along the way

Made my week

I’ve been waiting for this to be available, and it did not disappoint. So we’ll written

One of the great biographies of our time

Duncan joins the ranks of America's great biographers with this wonderful book that breaths life into the adventures of liberty's greatest advocate. From start to end Duncan covers the life of Lafayette in glorious detail in his journey from the court of the Ancien Regime to the last living major general of the American revolution. This is the book every fan of history needs to read.

Not a “Great Man” - just a good man

After listening to this book, I feel like Lafayette is a personal friend. The Marquis was a remarkable but understated man, never wavering in his principles and almost eager to spend his blood, treasure and reputation in defense of those principles. This is the story of a truly good person.

Duncan’s narration is the perfect complement to his text, with the same mix of friendliness and precision. I was so engrossed in the story that I could hardly believe it when I came to the end so soon.

A must-listen for anyone with an interest in history.

A dense and epic history.

Hero of Two Worlds was a real page turner read in a familiar style. I enjoyed it and I look forward to more epic histories from Mike Duncan.

Duncan is fantastic as ever

thoroughly enjoyed. worth the listen. connects two of the most monumental events in world history with the actions of one man so heroic its hard to believe he wasnt fictitious

Another good one by Mike Duncan

Ever since History of Rome, Mike has always delivered!
It's also nice to know a tiny bit of the almost miracle birth of the USA,
Thank you!

Flabby for Quotation

Suffers keenly from insecurely inserting frequent quotations thus hurting the pace. in The Storm Before the Storm and his podcasts The history of Rome and Revolutions Mr. Duncan did not or does not rely on quotation to give his point weight.

However, in Hero of Two Worlds Mr. Duncan spent 2 years living in France researching the novel. The work reflects this time spent, seemingly he had found too many quotes that he wished to include so he did not omit a single one. This has the effect of stuttering the pace of the novel as well as its style. Long passages of solid modern writing will be interrupted by multiple quotations in an 18th century style that do nothing to strengthen his point but everything to throw off the cadence.