Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

By: Sarah Vowell

Narrated by: Sarah Vowell, John Slattery, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, Bobby Cannavale, John Hodgman, Stephanie March, Alexis Denisof

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of Assassination Vacation and Unfamiliar Fishes, a humorous account of the Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette - the one Frenchman we could all agree on - and an insightful portrait of a nation's idealism and its reality.

On August 16, 1824, an elderly French gentlemen sailed into New York Harbor, and giddy Americans were there to welcome him. Or, rather, to welcome him back. It had been 30 years since he had last set foot in the United States, and he was so beloved that 80,000 people showed up to cheer for him. The entire population of New York at the time was 120,000.

Lafayette's arrival in 1824 coincided with one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history. Congress had just fought its first epic battle over slavery, and the threat of a Civil War loomed. But Lafayette, belonging to neither North nor South, to no political party or faction, was a walking, talking reminder of the sacrifices and bravery of the revolutionary generation and what they wanted this country to be. His return was not just a reunion with his beloved Americans; it was a reunion for Americans with their own astonishing, singular past.

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States is a humorous and insightful portrait of the famed Frenchman, the impact he had on our young country, and his ongoing relationship with instrumental Americans of the time, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and many more.

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

©2015 Sarah Vowell (P)2015 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"An A-list of recognizable voices, including those of John Hodgman reading John Adams and Nick Offerman portraying George Washington, delivers dozens of quotes from our forefathers. Vowell deftly stirs together tones of satire, superlative research, and, yes, patriotism to make American history irresistible. If she isn't a national treasure, she should be." (AudioFile)

Story good, performance not so good

Make sure you listen to the sample before buying. I found the narrator (author) irritating. This is of course personal.

History IS Entertaining

I love history books that are also entertaining, and this book by Sarah Vowell fits the bill. Vowell does her usual great job of research, visiting the places she will discuss, going off on interesting tangents, and making historical figures come alive with all of their strengths and weaknesses.

i worried before buying this book about the actors, wondering if each chapter would have a different narrator. That is not it at all. The actors say the quotations that are in the book; for example, Nick Offerman is George Washington. Many people have written that they did not like this, but I did. It gave my ears a break from Vowell's voice, which is very distinct, and it kept her from trying to sound like 18 different people (French accents, men, etc.). To me, that would have been awful.

So this book is a biography of Lafayette, for whom so many things in the USA are banned, as well as a mini history of the Revolution, at least the parts that involved Lafayette. I learned a great deal about Lafayette and so many others, in such an entertaining way.

What has really stood out to me was the brutality of the war on the US soldiers. I had been taught about the bad winters, the lack of support, the lack of training our troops had, but this book really made these things more visual? Tangible? Real? i am not sure, but I will never forget Washington (and others) freaking out about soldiers' bloody footprints in the snow leading the Red Coats right to them.

George Washington is, besides Lafayette, the other historical figure who looms large here. It would be hard NOT to admire him after reading this book, even though Vowell does not present him as flawless.

I admit that I enjoy stopping for Historical Markers as I travel by car and I often enjoy visiting historical sites/museums, etc., so when Vowell heads to Colonial Williamsburg or small towns in Pennsylvania, I am right there with her, seeing the places now and then, which is awesome. I think she does a great job with this material, and she obviously is passionate about American history. (I also read Assassination Vacation a few years ago for a book club and recommend that as well.) I also enjoy her pop culture references, and the connections she makes--one of the best is a connection to Ferris Bueller's Day Off!

I will be buying her other books here on Amazon.

Highly recommended to anyone, but especially those interested in: American history, French and US relations, biographies, American Revolution, travelogues, Quakers, Founding Fathers (there was not a whole lot about the Founding Mothers here), George Washington, war history, humor, and why the name Lafayette is all over our country.

Well Presented History - Enjoyable While Painful

Historical non-fiction is not at the top of my like list, I am consoled by the excellent information and presentation of the historical story this book relates. It's a well composed tale of how the US succeeded, despite enormous hardships - much we can relate to today - by a quasi government not mature nor free from personality and prejudices enough to prosecute a full scale war. Nevertheless, with truly heroic, yet flawed individuals and not a little luck we are invited to appreciate how the rabble army and fortunate in its allies, threw off British oppression. And it's the arcane but important facts that are known to only a few historians or Revolutionary War buffs that have you shaking your head in either disbelief or appreciation.

From hard facts, to the authors asides, opinions and anecdotes, I'll have to reconsider my listening list. Although she jumps around quite bit in the sequence of events, the book does hold together and maintains your interest. However, here in lies the one - and it's a biggie - problem. The author is blessed with an ear for dialogue and narrative; she is not in possession of vocal gifts. Her speaking voice does not do justice to the writing. In fact, I almost returned the book after the first 15 minutes - the narration was that painful. She's lively and delightfully acerbic but her tonality just about destroys the experience. I know it's harsh, but with such great content and info - all the more disappointing it wasn't narrated by a better voice. There are notable actors who add vocalizations representing the major players in the historic events. But neither are they used quite well enough, some are too short with only one word, others in bastardized French and British accents don't make the grade either. Good idea - not executed quite well enough.

In the end, I made a commitment to stick it out because the history is so entertaining and fresh.I wish I had read rather than listened - though I wonder if Ms Vowells (Is that not a perfect name for a writer?) would have slipped in her off the cuff comic anecdotes. I'm glad for the knowledge gained and learning experience - I will gladly recommend it - though forewarning a listener to measure their tolerance for the narration.

Fantastic production and performance

So wonderful to have Sarah Vowell (with her deadpan humor) and all the extra narrators bring her fascinating book to life. I have struggled through so many audible titles read by narrators with no grasp of the content of the book. This was such a breath of fresh air. Please produce more readings like this one. Thanks!

A good book, but maybe a different narrator?

What did you love best about Lafayette in the Somewhat United States?

The story and the historical figures in it. This is also not a dry book, with humor interwoven throughout. This would have been a very easy listen had it not for my trouble with the narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

I have recently been looking into the American Revolution and the French Revolution and am fascinated by the Marquis de Lafayette. This book gives me more insight into this interesting 'Hero of Two Worlds'.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of the narrators?

I quite like Davina Porter, or any female narrator capable of interjecting some humor.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Toward the end, when I heard that Lafayette is buried under soil from Bunker Hill, and that the American flag still flies over his grave, yeah, I got a little misty eyed.

Any additional comments?

I am not saying that the author did a bad job narrating her own book. She does, however, has a rather unusual voice and a slightly flat delivery that either make or break this for us listeners. I can see that some people really enjoy her narration, but I am just not one of them. I would probably recommend this to others to read instead of listen since I can't be sure whether they would enjoy the narration or not.

Took a little getting used to

I love Sarah Vowell and have read a lot of her stuff, but this was the first I listened to on audible. I have to say her performance took a little getting used to- I found it very bland and hard to focus on in the beginning. I was expecting more inflection or performance- so that was disappointing. I had to rewind it a lot until I got used to the monotony of her tone. I really enjoyed the cast of characters though- especially Nick Offerman as George Washington.

Why wasn't Sarah Vowell my history teacher?

I found myself laughing out loud during my daily walks while listening to this book. One does not need to be a history buff to enjoy the hilarity.

Good book, but Sarah Vowell is a better writer than narrator

The book is good, not quite as engaging or humorous as her earlier works, but it is informative and entertaining. Ms. Vowell's reading of her own work lets the book down though, I think, which is too bad. Her appearances on the daily show, etc made me think she'd be a funnier narrator, however her deadpan humor just gets washed out to a dull monotone by her reading. Even clearly funny lines like the British army being so well equipped (compared to the Continental) that they are called "redcoats" fell flat. It's too bad because there's clearly humor in the material and Sarah Vowell can definitely be funny, but the two seem to be ships passing in the night in her reading.
Tl;Dr : get the paperback instead and read your own humorous delivery.

Actors are Distracting.

I like the history and the commentary, but the actors do not help. The transitions are awkward and distracting. The producer should reflect on this as a learning opportunity.

Unique take on the founding....

I'm a huge fan of Sarah's work! Her take on early American history is an informative and at times amusing one.

Her voice can be a bit jarring at times but it's mostly endearing.