You’re Invited! The Hero Returns: Lafayette and the Legacy of Revolution
In 1824, nearly 50 years after he fought alongside the American revolutionaries, the legendary French hero Marquis de Lafayette returned to the United States for an extraordinary journey through the young nation he had helped create.
Historian and author Richard Brookhiser describes his triumphal tour of early America in his new book The Hero Returns: Lafayette and the Legacy of Revolution—and you can join the Goldwater Institute’s Timothy Sandefur for a special webinar discussion with the author as they discuss the life of Lafayette and the lessons he can teach us in America’s 250th year.
When: Friday, October 9, 2026
Time: Noon MST / 3 PM EDT
Where: Online webinar
RSVP for the free webinar here.
About the Author
Richard Brookhiser is a senior editor of National Review and a fellow of the National Review Institute. His books include Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution; Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington; and Founders’ Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln. He lives in New York City.
About the Book:
In 1824, the legendary French hero of the American and French Revolutions, the Marquis de Lafayette, commenced an epic tour of the United States at the invitation of President James Monroe. On this fourteen-month trip across all twenty-four states, Lafayette (1757–1834) witnessed an evolving young nation grappling with its ideals, achievements, and challenges: a contested yet peaceful presidential election, engineering marvels like the Erie Canal, and the persistent tragedy of slavery. Journalist and historian Richard Brookhiser shows us what Lafayette saw on this storied adventure through the fifty-year-old republic―hoopla, oratory, journalism, struggle, failure, and idealism.
As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence, Brookhiser invites readers to ponder the same critical question posed by Lafayette and his contemporaries: How well has America upheld the promise of its revolution? With vivid storytelling and acute insight, Brookhiser reflects on an era marked by triumph and turbulence―an era with compelling parallels to the present―and offers enduring lessons on liberty and democracy.
