“Brookhiser offers the most insightful account yet of Lafayette’s tour, analyzing the state of the union on the eve of its 50th anniversary and asking where we stand in relation to our founding ideals today.”—Laura Auricchio, author of The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered“Brookhiser fuses Lafayette’s journey with an enduring collective reflection on the promise of the American Revolution: a meticulous, timely study for the 2026 commemorations of independence that captures the lasting influence of a pivotal transatlantic figure.”—Emilie Mitran, author of Des Américains en France, 1776–1792, Quand l’indépendance américaine se jouait à Paris“The Hero Returns is another home run by Richard Brookhiser. Following his previous biographies of Washington, Marshall, Lincoln, and John Trumbull, Brookhiser remains one of our leading popular biographers. This book makes an important contribution to the recovery of a vital figure from the American Revolution.”—Steven B. Smith, author of On Statesmanship
