The Marquis de La Fayette in the American Revolution, vol. 1

What it is

This is the first volume of a two-volume history written by Charlemagne Tower in 1895, examining the career of Lafayette in America and France's attitude toward the War of Independence. The author drew on Lafayette's letters, published family memoirs, and official documents to write it.

Why it matters

Written over a century after the events, this book represents how later historians pieced together Lafayette's story using primary materials like his letters and official records. It shows how his legacy as a symbol of French-American friendship was studied and preserved long after his death.

Look closer

• Why would a historian in 1895 still be interested in writing about events from the 1770s and 1780s?
• What kinds of sources did the author use, and how might that affect what he chose to include?
• What might be left out of a history written so long after the events it describes?