The Lafayette Circle

When Lafayette at the invitation of President Monroe visited the United States in 1824 through 1825, the reaction of widespread adulation for the Guest of The Nation, the Hero of Two Worlds was amazing and virtually unanimous in the United States. It may well be that the crowned heads of Europe were less than enthusiastic about the popularity of this advocate for democracy and human rights. Did they have the resources to stage a highly public assassination? And who was there to prevent it? And why does history not record the attempt?

In the spirit of Day of The Jackal and The Eagle Has Landed S.W. O'Connell follows the plotters and more importantly the Lafayette Circle, who working secretly against all odds frustrate their evil plan. The Circle was a motley assortment of old clerics, shipless sailors and come-as-you-are spooks a few of who had been introduced when they were much younger in O'Connell's Patriot Spies series. The story is very timely as we prepare to celebrate the bicentennial of Lafayette's Farewell Tour.