The Women of Chateau Lafayette

By: Stephanie Dray

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert, Emma Bering, Rachel Jacobs

Length: 23 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

Named one of 2021’s Most Anticipated Historical Novels by Oprah Magazine ∙ PopSugar ∙ SheReads ∙ Parade ∙ and more!

An epic saga from New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy.

Most castles are protected by men. This one by women.

A founding mother...
1774. Gently bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette’s political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary...
1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing- not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France firsthand, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

A reluctant resistor...
1940. French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.

Intricately woven and powerfully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we take from those who came before us.

©2021 Stephanie Dray (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“[R]iveting.... We can learn from Adrienne, Beatrice, and Marthe's stories, even as we're swept away.” (Oprah Magazine)

"Stephanie Dray's latest is a masterpiece, braiding three stories into a single tale of courage, humanity, and women triumphing in the face of overwhelming odds. Three heroines with seemingly nothing in common - a French Revolution Founding Mother struggling to preserve her family, a World War I socialite turned passionate activist, and a World War II orphan pulled into the French Resistance - turn out to have everything in common as they struggle through the chaos of three separate wars to forge a united legacy. The Women of Chateau Lafayette is destined to soar!" (Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network) 

"Impeccably researched and masterfully told... This ode to the strength of women throughout the ages is a tour de force!" (Stephanie Thornton, USA Today best-selling author of And They Called It Camelot) 

Maybe it was good?

I’m going to have to return this book. I’ve had to skip over every chapter that is about Adrienne. I would bet that this narrator actually wore a clip on her nose while she was reading. It’s was positively disgusting. so bad that I had to skip over those chapters. In fact, while I was listening to the first chapter I found myself constantly feeling the need to blow my nose. For no real reason! I don’t have a cold. I don’t have allergies. It was just a visceral reaction to that voice. I could not listen to her and it completely ruined the book. The other two narrators were overly dramatic. One so whispery with what o believe is supposed to be a French accent and one so clipped and sharp, even during the telling of tragic tales! I understand the accents and a bit of theatrics are intended to bring out the personality of the Characters. And in some places it would’ve been very appropriate to be clipped. But this was relentless. It’s a shame. I, like a many others, have been anxiously waiting for this book. The audio version is not worth listening to. And now, because of the Adrienne character, I don’t know if I can read the book without hearing that awful portrayal

Fascinating but a bit slow

I enjoy the story, and it’s rich with detail and complexity. The narrators are flawless. However, at times it felt that the story was slow and tedious. I’m torn because the details make up this layered historical fiction, but there were so many that I think that my mind wandered and missed things. The best example is Adrienne du La Fayette. What a life! However, her story didn’t match the pace of the other two characters. As a result, there was an amazing story that was told at a snails pace.

If I ever get to France, I will definitely visit Chavaniac-layfayette!