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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I enjoy well written books about historical people and events
Hard to top a professional biographer like Chernow.
Realist and detailed. Helped to read this before seeing stage play of “Hamilton”
Loved the details of Hamilton’s life. I could hear Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music as I was reading it.
The author did america a great favor by bringing Hamilton out of obscurity.
The “characters” in this book are all real life people, and Chernow recounts this history in a gripping tale.
What you always wanted to know about one of America’s most creative and ambitious founders.
Engaging and informative biography of Alexander Hamilton.
Digs into history and helps understand Hamilton´s monumental achievements.
I read it a long time ago, but it was a good historical biography, not too boring.
I very much enjoyed the research involved in this book and the flow was spot on. This is up there with Mr. Chernow’s Washington! I was shocked this didn’t win the Pulitzer since both are fantastically laid bare before the reader in much the same manner.
This is an extremely long and thorough biography of Alexander Hamilton. At times, I found it a difficult read. The author took thoroughness to heart.
What a remarkable man Alexander Hamilton was! I really enjoyed it thoroughly.
Well researched.
Anything Chernow writes is wonderful. He writes about history the way you wish they taught it in school. Don’t miss this wonderful book that the musical was based on.one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Fascinating read about real people who made America what it is today. I learned a lot and enjoyed the educational experience.
Chernow is always excellent.
This work thoroughly chronicles the life and very important influence of an American hero, Alexander Hamilton, (even though he was actually not an American). Our democracy owes much to this one individual and every student of history should know this man’s story. Ron Chernow is a meticulously detailed biographer, no fluff here.
Chernow tells the story of Alexander Hamilton well, written in absorbable and engaging episodes. Hamilton is presented in his greatness, and with flawed judgments and deeds. Wife Eliza features strongly throughout and is given a glowing epilogue of her own. I’ve been especially impressed by the clarity and succinctness in Chernow’s summary of so many of Hamilton’s seminal writings and guidelines for structuring our government; by Chernow’s summaries of the evolving relationships between Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe; and, by the moving description of the tragic clash between Hamilton and Burr leading to Hamilton’s death. This was my first Chernow experience, but, if the gods are willing, it will certainly not be my last
This novel portrays not only the political figure, but that of a private citizen. Very well-taken points, and Hamilton’s actions and words, make for a very enjoyable read. Definitely recommend for history fans.