Adopted Son, by David A. Clary

As the American Revolution began boiling, events were watched closely in France. The people of France had been at war with England, on and off, for centuries. They felt that anything that was calamitous to England could only be good for France. One avid spectator was a young man, the Marquise de Lafayette. He was an impressionable youth who longed for military glory in the manner in which it had been achieved by his forefathers. In spite of the fact that he was still a teenager, he bought a ship and headed to America.

Interestingly enough, he was not thought much of in France, but was given importance in the rebelling colonies because he was thought to be someone of high standing in a country that could help the American cause. Once in the New World, Lafayette was turned over to Washington. Here is where the masterful writing of David A. Clary allows us to understand the complex relationship that would develop between Lafayette and the fatherly Washington.

Washington quickly took to the lad because he was so different from the other foreign officers demanding positions of authority in the Continental Army. Though self-confident, and never hesitant to put himself forward, Lafayette was willing to learn. He had been orphaned at a young age, by a father who had been killed fighting the British. The Marquise adopted Washington as his father and George Washington, the father of his country, allowed him to do it. In letters between them they use endearing names that indicate they took the relationship seriously, and Lafayette frequently, publicly made declarations about himself as the "Friend of Washington". The relationship, though not a legal one, became an accepted fact and it, among other factors catapaulted Lafayette's standing in his home country.

Adopted Son traces Lafayette's relationships with wife, family, other generals, and aides, such as Hamilton, Laurens, Green, and Von Steuben. Clary is masterful at depicting the secondary characters of this story. As he introduces characters, he writes a short biography of each, that is often no longer than a paragraph, but says so much about the person. The book is a delight to read if only to catch a glimpse of well-known revolutionary figures through the eyes of Clary.

The nice thing about Lafayette was that he was competent, thoughtful, and even a very good general. He proved his leadership qualities and his military acumen in a brilliant campaign in Virginia against Cornwallis just before the battle of Yorktown. It was largely due to his efforts that the wily Cornwallis got himself into a trap from which he could not extricate himself. Later when both Cornwallis and Lafayette were visiting Frederick the Great, the old soldier showed his preference for Lafayette at table and admired the young man very much. A high complement from the greatest warrior of the age.

Clary goes on to give us Lafayette's full story and it is a fascinating one. He played a prominent part in the French Revolution and would be considered Napoleon's only real competition for leadership after the fall of the Bourbons. There is pathos in his imprisonment by the Austrians. There is courageous love in the actions of his wife. There is statesmanlike behavior in his later dealings with Napoleon. This is a great story, not simply history, but an adventure. All through it we are treated to stirring events. Through it all we see Lafayette as a great figure, molded and fired in the American Revolution, by his Adopted Father, George Washington.