Barricade Publishing releases Lafayette at Brandywine

October 26th, 2021

October 26, 2021

        Larchmont, NY, _ Barricade Publishing’s new release, Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero, details Lafayette’s many personal sacrifices as he fought for America’s freedom.

            The book’s release date is October 30, 2021. The 275-page book is richly illustrated with the cover containing an original painting by nationally-known artist Adrian Martinez of Downingtown, PA. The book sells for $24.95 and can be purchased from book stores, on the internet, and Barricade Books. Signed copies can be obtained by contacting author Bruce E. Mowday at mowday@mowday.com.

            “You made me fall in love with Lafayette,” one reader wrote to Mowday. Chuck Schwan of the American Friends of Lafayette wrote, “I have been a “Lafayette-sit” for more than a dozen years, this book spoke to me in a way no other book has. It is not simply a biography of a description of events, but a detailed explanation of the genesis of Lafayette’s ascent to hero status.”

            Author Mowday said, “I wrote about Lafayette’s courageous exploits in the United States and his sacrifices for our freedom. His experiences were so many and varied that biographies of his life, without being thousands of pages, can’t offer the necessary details about his adventures in the United States. Lafayette was our nation’s first international hero. He was the nation’s guest during a celebratory tour in 1824 and 1825 and he received many accolades during his stops across this country. He deserved his grand tour. Lafayette’s tour will never be equaled.”

            Mowday, who resides in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and has authored more than 20 books on history, true crime, business and sports, wrote the first detailed history of the battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, Washington’s Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia. For more information, see www.mowday.com.

           “Washington almost lost his whole army that day,” Mowday said. “Some writers have attempted to put a positive spin on the military action, but Brandywine was a major defeat. In my Lafayette book, I looked beyond the military maneuvers. Brandywine deserves to have an honored place in American history. While many brave Americans died that day, what made that day so important in this country’s history was the fact that a 20-year-old French nobleman, who left his country and young wife against the wishes of his King, shed his blood for American freedom that day. Brandywine marked the beginning of Lafayette’s ascent to hero status.”

            The United States won its freedom from England because of the aid supplied by France. France became an American ally, in a large part due to Lafayette.

            Julian P. Icher, Founder and President of The Lafayette Trail, Inc., commented, “The Battle of Brandywine produced an American affection for Lafayette in 1777. The Frenchman sailed home to France on the ‘USS Brandywine’ for the last time in September 1825. Brandywine permanently attaches Lafayette’s name to the national narrative. So does Bruce Mowday’s book.”

            Kim Burdick, Resident Manage of the Hale-Byrnes House, Delaware, noted, “This book is more comprehensive and more interesting than a simple look at Lafayette’s role in the Battle of Brandywine. It is neither an academic tome full of obscure references nor a historiographical interpretation presenting him as a romantic young man. Mowday’s book is a very readable and carefully footnoted reconstruction of the role Lafayette played throughout the war in diplomatic and economic issues of importance to the fledgling American nation.”

            Reviewer Gen Pisasale, CFA, Historian/Author/Lecturer at Historic Insights, noted, “Bruce Mowday’s new book on Lafayette is a joy to read. It makes the young Frenchman ‘come alive’ for a new generation to understand and appreciate.”