On Wednesday, January 30, fifteen members of the book club met to discuss Sarah Vowell’s rollicking retelling of the American Revolution, Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. This selection is perfect for anyone who appreciates a fresh look at traditional historical narratives. Vowell’s art history background made for unique, entertaining reflections on France’s crucial role in the Revolution, and challenges the notion that the outcome of the war was in any way inevitable. We agreed the book would have benefited from a sharper structure (it features no chapters); some of Vowell’s hard-hitting points become buried in the prose. Overall, Lafayette is a clear recommendation for history and political science buffs, and sure to incite easy discussion on Lafayette’s contributions and how we choose to frame our national history.
