The #1 New York Times bestseller, and the inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Hamilton!Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow presents a landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father who galvanized, inspired, scandalized, and shaped the newborn nation.“Grand-scale biography at its best—thorough, insightful, consistently fair, and superbly written . . . A genuinely great … fair, and superbly written . . . A genuinely great book.” —David McCullough
“A robust full-length portrait, in my view the best ever written, of the most brilliant, charismatic and dangerous founder of them all.” —Joseph Ellis
Few figures in American history have been more hotly debated or more grossly misunderstood than Alexander Hamilton. Chernow’s biography gives Hamilton his due and sets the record straight, deftly illustrating that the political and economic greatness of today’s America is the result of Hamilton’s countless sacrifices to champion ideas that were often wildly disputed during his time. “To repudiate his legacy,” Chernow writes, “is, in many ways, to repudiate the modern world.” Chernow here recounts Hamilton’s turbulent life: an illegitimate, largely self-taught orphan from the Caribbean, he came out of nowhere to take America by storm, rising to become George Washington’s aide-de-camp in the Continental Army, coauthoring The Federalist Papers, founding the Bank of New York, leading the Federalist Party, and becoming the first Treasury Secretary of the United States.Historians have long told the story of America’s birth as the triumph of Jefferson’s democratic ideals over the aristocratic intentions of Hamilton. Chernow presents an entirely different man, whose legendary ambitions were motivated not merely by self-interest but by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build the foundations of American prosperity and power. His is a Hamilton far more human than we’ve encountered before—from his shame about his birth to his fiery aspirations, from his intimate relationships with childhood friends to his titanic feuds with Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Monroe, and Burr, and from his highly public affair with Maria Reynolds to his loving marriage to his loyal wife Eliza. And never before has there been a more vivid account of Hamilton’s famous and mysterious death in a duel with Aaron Burr in July of 1804.
Chernow’s biography is not just a portrait of Hamilton, but the story of America’s birth seen through its most central figure. At a critical time to look back to our roots, Alexander Hamilton will remind readers of the purpose of our institutions and our heritage as Americans.
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Read the hardcover back when it first came out, before the play ect
Any book by Ron Chernow is always terrific
I had been looking for a good Hamilton biography for a while and was overjoyed to find this gem
I love historical biographies and I picked this one up when I heard that this is what the musical Hamilton was based on. It is easy to read like David McCullough. Love his story telling style.
I’m a retired History teacher who remembers her first encounter with Hamilton in the Federalist Papers. I remember thinking “who is this guy” when I read his letters, He wrote with such a distinctive voice. It was filled with passion and intellect. I came to the Chernow book as a result of Lin Manuel’s Miranda’s musical. If you loved the play, you will love the book
Long but never boring.
Long but very readable. Wonderful insights into a little known character out of American history.
I thought it got monotonous after a while. I read about 1/3 of the book and then quit. It’s not a book you can put down for a while and then pick up again as it has lots of characters. A lot of my book club thought it was marvelous. It was an interesting bit of history but I personally didn’t care for the writing.
The book is long and well worth the read (or listen–the audio version is well done). It will make you realize that our nation’s politics have always been highly partisan and often bitterly divisive. After all, it features a sitting Vice President killing a former Cabinet Secretary in a duel.
Fabulous!
Amazingly related to today’s political climate in so many ways. What is and what isn’t constitutional?
I have read it twice; once before I went to see the musical in NYC. I encourage every one to read it. It amazes me how much One dedicated person can accomplish in such a short time span.
A great read about a key figure in the early history of the nation. Well written and engaging, there is a lot to learn about Hamilton and Chernow does an excellent job of presenting it. Everything from Hamilton’s beginnings in the Carribbean to the Federalist papers is covered.
Chernow is thorough, sharp. Shares the complex, brilliant life of one of America’s heretofore lesser-known founding fathers. Brought the nascent, idealistic country out of its Revolution for independence with a firm hand.
Wonderfully informative book about Alexander Hamilton. Made history interesting.
Great easily read biography of one of our fore-fathers!
Great book hands down!
Very easy to read. Great information on one of our founding fathers.
When Hamilton made it big, I had to find out as much I could about Alexander Hamilton and the state of our country was in at the time. History buffs and just plain lovers of knowledge will love this book!
Long detailed story of a president with many flaws and attributes …A long and detailed read.
This is the book that inspired the musical Hamilton. A wonderful look at one of the founding fathers. Hamilton’s life from his humble beginnings to his immigration to America and his rise to the highest offices in the land.
Hamilton was self made, the American dream. He went to college paying his own way which was almost unheard of during the day. He became an aide to Washington and established the Treasury and the way we deal with money. He established the Coast Guard. He was so influential and “behind the scenes.”
I enjoyed this book so much I was sad when it ended.
A great read.
Great background to more thoroughly enjoy the theatrical production