Release date: March 30, 2021

Content Rating: 

Book Description:

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 schoolteacher 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.

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Wow, this is the first book I read by Stephanie Dray, and it won't be the last! I was captivated right from the start. It's an epic novel about three women who lived during different times, a triple timeline alternating throughout the book. I was amazed by how seamlessly the author moved from one era to the other. And the fact that two of the women were based on actual historical figures made the story all the more interesting. It was evident the book was well-researched and very well-written.

All three timelines were equally interesting to me and were connected by the Chateau Lafayette, a fortified manor house (it's a museum today) that is situated in France and is the birthplace of General Lafayette. I did not know much about Lafayette nor the role his wife played in politics. What an amazing woman she was! History tends to downplay women's roles, but the author brings them out through careful research and skillful writing. She succeeds in building unforgettable characters, strong women that took risks, that made a difference, that were devoted and avant-gardists.

This novel was like reading three books in one. There was never a dull moment. It's a long book with almost 600 pages and typed in small font. It's not a book you want to rush through. It's one that has a lot going on and that makes you invest in its characters and their stories. No fluff here.

If you are a serious historical fiction reader who loves epic well-written stories, look no further. Stephany Dray satisfies the thirst for sweeping era-based historical fiction novels that are sure to become classics.

Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author of historical women's fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages. She lives near the nation's capital with her husband, cats, and history books.