New novel by Sarah Vowell on the Marquise de Lafayette looks at his popularity and impact today | Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

“Lafayette in the Somewhat United States” by Sarah Vowell; Riverhead Books (274 pages, $27.95) ——— I can’t think of anyone who’s better at making you think about American history — and sometimes laugh while you’re doing it — than Sarah Vowell. Her books — especially “The Partly Cloudy Patriot” and “Assassination Vacation,” in which she visits…