This book was amazing from beginning to end. The author captivates you with her storytelling and engaging characters. I could not put down.

This book ended up being a DNF for me, which of course means I did not finish. I made it 144 pages in, which is I think a fair amount of time to give a book. More then. I absolutely hated Marthe Simone and found her absolutely appalling, selfish and unrealistic. Like yes, please take today’s commonplace themes and overlay it on another time period. She just seemed all out of sorts to me and didn’t make any sense to me in this book. I was not at all surprised to find out that Marthe was the one fictional character of the three women in this book. Unfortunately for me, Beatrice also fell flat. I was completely indifferent to her storyline. Adrienne, however, I absolutely adored. She was the saving grace of this book and I would’ve loved it to be solely focused on her. I actually did make it a bit further ahead then mentioned above. At 144 pages in, I started skipping Marthe and Beatrice chapters and I made it two more chapters with Adrienne before I realized that…there are too many other books that don’t require me to skip long chunks to enjoy and so I shouldn’t waste any more time on one that makes me do that.

💫 The Women of Chateau Lafayette 💫
By Stephanie Dray
Published by: Berkeley Books (March 2021)

Disclaimer that you need to give this book the attention it deserves. It’s not a quick read at almost 600 pages and yet, it was never boring at all. I found that each of the three characters taught me a little bit more about time periods I have always had an interest in. But Dray did it with women who were very different from each other and yet had a connection and a voice that added to the world around them.
Honestly this book reminds me of the same feeling of the Rose Code by Kate Quinn. Both so rich in history but definitely daunting if you aren’t a historical fiction lover.

Quick synopsis: Three Women during 3 periods in history:

Adrienne (1770’s) who marries at 14 yrs old into the layfette family. She’s our founding heroine.
Beatrice (1914’s) a show gal with a voice that demands to be heard. She fights for what she knows deep in her gut is right. She’s also the one whose husband purchased the Chateau in France.
Marthe (1940’s). Marthe was my favourite character because she was that gentle soul that just wanted to live her life quietly with a focus on her creative side. Her orphaned status is what probably cemented the fact that she would become a teacher at the Chateau during the war and keep those young kids in her care, with as much protection to the world falling apart around them as she could.

All 3 voices intrigued me. I found the writing smooth and easy to get into. But I do 💯 believe that it’ll be daunting to many readers unless they have the time and love of our past generational connections that I adore.

There’s a reason why Oprah had it on her summer book list for Historical Fiction.

Most castles are defended by heroic men. Remote Château de Chavaniac, birthplace of the both popular and vilified Marquis de Lafayette, is protected by women. Unbearable decisions face Lafayette’s spirited nobly born wife Adrienne during the widespread discontent and bloodbath that defined the French Revolution. Visionary philanthropist, Beatrice Astor Chanler, who determinedly rose from rags to riches, uses wealth and influence to ease the plight of French soldiers and creates an orphanage in the face of devastating carnage in the first world war. In the second world war, Marthe, teacher and sculptor, bravely applies her art to saving Jewish children in Nazi-occupied France. Chavaniac, symbol of steadfastness, with its hidden tunnels creates a dramatic stage for resistance. Defiant, each of these inspiring women shelters children and changes the political landscape using resources unique to them. Love, strength and wrenching loss spurs each woman to examine what she can do in the face of horrific straits.

Dray (My Dear Hamilton) uses lavish historical detail in this extensively researched, sweeping biographical novel. This multigenerational saga establishes a subdued steady tension that never releases its captivating grip.

I unfortunately could not finish this book. I lost major interest about 30% in and decided to not waste any more time trying to get through it. I love historical fiction but this book was unfortunately way too slow. Disappointed.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette is based on a true story of the Château de Chavaniac, the family home of the Marquis de Lafayette in France. The Chateau played a pivotal role in three major wars, the French Revolution and both World Wars, and The Women of Chateau Lafayette highlights the extraordinary women whose lives intersected with the Chateau and who sacrificed and fought for freedom during these wars. In this epic historical novel, Dray tells the stories of Adrienne Lafayette during the French Revolution, New York socialite Beatrice Chanler during World War I, and French school teacher Marthe Simone during World War II. The author’s meticulous research and vivid prose bring these women’s powerful stories to life.

This was an utterly compelling story about three generations of interconnected French women who lived or worked at the Chateau Lafayette. I loved learning about the ways these French women's lives were intertwined with important world events, from the American revolution, to WWI and then later WWII. Such strong women characters fighting for what they thought was right against great odds, protecting secrets, being mothers, and forming lasting bonds of friendship. Highly, highly recommend this for any historical fiction fans. I couldn't put this one down! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

This one didn't grab me in the same way her other novels had, but it was an enjoyable read. It is dense and has a slow start but if you love history, this is a good pick for you!

How interesting to see a story of the strength of women during wartime told across three different time periods. This gives a fresh perspective to the historical fiction genre, and I'll look forward to reading more from Stephanie Dray.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I love multiple timeline novels and this one was exceptional. Stephanie Dray has written a masterpiece with "The Women of Chateau Lafayette," a sweeping saga about three strong, courageous, remarkable women that spans three different wars. The amount of research required must have been incredible. The story is alive with beautiful historical detail and the characters were unforgettable. I learned a lot about people and a period of history that were unfamiliar to me (such as Lafayette and his wife) and had such admiration for all the women in each storyline. My hat is off to Stephanie Dray. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

Not many authors do historical fiction quite like Stephanie Dray. Rich in history and depth of characters pull you in as your turn page by page and become so engrossed. Great writing, as always. Great book club option.

A well told intriguing story about a piece of history I was not previously familiar with. So much has been written about WWII that I am hesitant to pick up a book about the subject. However I’m glad I read this it was about strong brave women who deserve to be recognized. Women who risk everything to get supplies and messages to the French resistance. I was humbled by their bravery and inspired by their strength.

The idea of liberty and democracy championed by the Marquis de Lafayette is the legacy of three remarkably strong women in three different periods of war. Adrienne, wife of Lafayette, marries at 14 and supports her husband during the danger and turmoil of the French Revolution. Her bravery never wavers, in the face of the guillotine and the deaths of those she loves. During WWI Beatrice, wife of William Astor Chanler, starts the Lafayette fund to send aid to French soldiers in the trenches. She crosses the Atlantic many times, despite the threat of torpedoes, and establishes a home for orphaned children at Chateau de Chavaniac, the home of Lafayette. One of the children she aids is Marthe Simone who risks her life to save Jewish children at the Chateau during WWII. The stories of these three women, based on the true lives of Adrienne and Beatrice, demonstrate the power of women's love, hope and strength throughout the ages. Highly recommended this is a novel historical fiction fans should not miss!

This story of three incredibly strong women was very interesting and inspiring. I love historical fiction and this did it justice. I will say that it was VERY long!

I'm an occasional historical fiction reader, and this one was perfect. I loved that this book takes place over generations and the women that shape countries and politics. The characters were rich and again the backdrops of their times it was easy to tell a story of women that doesn't discount the men around them, but puts them in the background of this story. From a historical point of view, I went to wikipedia quite a few times while reading to learn more about the times or people mentioned. Dray did a fantastic job of placing these stories in their respective time periods to make the plot interesting and compelling.

Synopsis:
Most castles are protected by men. This one by women.

A founding mother...
1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette’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 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 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 firsthand, 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 powerfully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we take from those who came before us.

<i>The Women of Chateau Lafayette</i> follows three women who fight for freedom in France from the chateau Chavaniac, where the famous Marquis de Lafayette grew up in rural France. In 18th century France, Adrienne Lafayette helps her husband fight for equality, regardless of the consequences. In 1910s New York and Paris, socialite Beatrice Chanler uses her influence to try to convince Americans to support the allies in the Great War after seeing some of its atrocities firsthand. In 1940, Marthe Simone has grown up in the orphanage at Chavaniac and has stayed on as a teacher and aspiring artist. When the Nazis invade France, Marthe has to decide what to stand for as the world as she has known it come crashing down.

I absolutely loved this book. It is my favorite book so far of 2021! Stephanie Dray did thorough research while writing this book, and it shows. Adrienne and Beatrice were real women, and while Marthe was fictional, she was based on the real actions anonymous people at Chavaniac took during World War II. I adored all three story lines equally; every time we would jump between characters, I would settle into the chapter and think, “Oh, yes! This is my favorite story line.” I read this book slowly to savor the tales. I definitely plan to come back and reread this book later! I highly recommend <i>The Women of Chateau Lafayette</i>.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

Three amazing women, one phenomenal story.

An epic saga of three women over three time periods, their contributions to the world, their struggles of life and love, all woven together brilliantly. Stephanie Dray’s love of history shows in all of her books, as does her talent and imagination. She has a wonderful ability to bring history to life and draw you into the past and the story.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette is historical fiction at its finest.

The setting: "an epic saga." Historical fiction about Chateau Chavaniac-Lafayette.

Billed as:
"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"

Three MAIN story lines involving the castle and the efforts of three women to support the fronts.

Adrienne Lafayette, a "gently-bred noblewoman," 1774. [the French--and American revolutions]. Wife of Gilbert, the Marquis de Lafayette [hence, his castle].

Beatrice Astor Chanler, a New York socialite, 1914. [WWI]. Married into Astor wealth; she uses her position and connections to bolster American-French relations and help the cause.

Marthe Simone, an orphan [who grew up in the castle], and is now a teacher at the school and an aspiring artist, 1940. [WWII] [in the note, she is revealed as a fictional. device]

And many other characters involved with these three women who figure prominently in this non-linear novel.

Lots of back and forth in this story [which meant for some confusion]. Many, many sidelines/things happening. The French Revolution--Lafayette goes to America, meets George Washington. Benjamin Franklin in France. Slavery, ideals, etc.!

WWII and anti-Semitism. The French culture and infidelity.

Well-written, but I honestly thought it could have been condensed a bit..

Extremely detailed and well researched. And, IMHO, the Author's Note was epic.

In the minority of readers [so far] as I thought it was a looong, slow read.

This was a beautiful story told through three timelines within the same location. What an imaginative, amazing story! Dray has created such a wonderful world for us to join in this book. The descriptive writing really brings the reader into the story, and it's perfect!

After watching Hamilton for the first time last year, I picked up this title as I was curious to learn more about Lafayette.
The strength and courage of the three women in this inter generational story were inspiring and beautiful.
Dray masterfully weaves their stories together and it was a joy to read. The only drawback was the length which might prevent me from recommending it to some of my readers who are experiencing some cognitive decline.