The Women of Château Lafayette

The Women of Château Lafayette is a sweeping saga that showcases the strength and tenacity of three women who each have a connection to the Château de Chavaniac, an imposing castle in France with a compelling history of its own. 

The story spans three different eras -- the French Revolution, WWI and WWII and is told by three women. The first is Adrienne, the wife of the Marquis de Lafayette (you may remember Gilbert Lafayette from the Broadway hit Hamilton) whose story line takes place in the 1770's leading up to the French Revolution. The second is Beatrice Chanler, a chorus girl turned socialite turned social activist in WWI, and the third is Marthe, a fictional character in the 1940's who grew up at the Château de Chavaniac as an orphan and later became a teacher at a preventorium housed at the Château. Each of these women captured my attention in different ways - from Beatrice's humour and strength to Adrienne's devotion and fight for American and French independence, to Marthe's experiences living under Nazi control and the mystery of her parentage. This is an impressive trio.

This is a big book (I'm not gonna lie) and there's a lot going on. The story spans 200 years, two world wars and one revolution and, at times, following three POVs in three eras was a bit confusing. The story had its ups and downs and even though I'm a fast reader, I found this was a deceptively long read with the story occasionally dragging due to excessive details and dialogue, particularly in the middle of the book. 

But I loved that I learned a lot from this book, namely the characters of Adrienne and Beatrice and I particularly liked how Dray addresses why the US delayed their entry into both world wars. As a granddaughter of a Canadian veteran of WWII, I appreciated getting a better understanding of why the US waited so long to join the Allied forces in the wars.

Overall, this is an impressive story that showcases the varied and important roles women played in the fight for freedom that are not often detailed in historical texts. This is a compelling story filled with intrigue, danger and history told by a tenacious trio of women who showed bravery and perseverance despite the adversity and danger they faced.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for my complimentary advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Stephanie Dray

Genre: Historical Fiction

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

First Published: March 30, 2021

Opening Lines: There are places in this world where the past 

still echoes in the stones. 

The Chateau de Chavaniac is such a place.

Book Description from GoodReads: An epic saga from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy in three of humanity's darkest hours

Most castles are protected by powerful men. This one by women...

A founding mother...
1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband's political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must choose to renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary...
1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Astor Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing--not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France and delivering war-relief over dangerous seas, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

A reluctant resistor...
1940. French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.

Intricately woven and beautifully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we find from standing together in honor of those who came before us.