“An edge-of my sear immersion into historical events…No study of Alexander Hamilton would be complete without reading this book.” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author“The best book of the year!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice NetworkWife, Widow, and Warrior in Alexander Hamilton’s quest for a more perfect unionFrom the New York Times bestselling authors … Hamilton’s quest for a more perfect union
From the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter comes the epic story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton—a revolutionary woman who, like her new nation, struggled to define herself in the wake of war, betrayal, and tragedy. Perfect for fans of Ron Chernow’s biography Alexander Hamilton and fans of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton: the Musical.
In this haunting, moving, and beautifully written novel, Dray and Kamoie used thousands of letters and original sources to tell Eliza’s story as it’s never been told before—not just as the wronged wife at the center of a political sex scandal—but also as a founding mother who shaped an American legacy in her own right.
A general’s daughter…
Coming of age on the perilous frontier of revolutionary New York, Elizabeth Schuyler champions the fight for independence. And when she meets Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s penniless but passionate aide-de-camp, she’s captivated by the young officer’s charisma and brilliance. They fall in love, despite Hamilton’s bastard birth and the uncertainties of war.
A founding father’s wife…
But the union they create—in their marriage and the new nation—is far from perfect. From glittering inaugural balls to bloody street riots, the Hamiltons are at the center of it all—including the political treachery of America’s first sex scandal, which forces Eliza to struggle through heartbreak and betrayal to find forgiveness.
The last surviving light of the Revolution…
When a duel destroys Eliza’s hard-won peace, the grieving widow fights her husband’s enemies to preserve Alexander’s legacy. But long-buried secrets threaten everything Eliza believes about her marriage and her own legacy. Questioning her tireless devotion to the man and country that have broken her heart, she’s left with one last battle—to understand the flawed man she married and imperfect union he could never have created without her…
more
I read My Dear Hamilton based off of a recommendation from a fellow historical fiction fan. This book was very good. The research and attention to detail was very evident in this book. I enjoyed learning more about Eliza Schuyler Hamilton and the life she lived with her husband Alexander Hamilton. She was smart, kind, forgiving (too much so) and resilient. She is definitely an admirable woman.
Interesting look at American history / revolutionary war era, from the female point of view. Seemingly well researched. Definitely held my interest. I was surprised at the negative portrayal of Thomas Jefferson!
If you are a fan of Hamilton: The Musical, then this is the book for you. Historical fiction at its best as it takes the reader into the world of the women behind the founding fathers.
What a great look into this time in our history. Great novel and a must read.
Awesome book!
Excellent read of historical fiction
I was anxious to read this before we saw the play “Hamilton” again. It is VERY long but I truly enjoyed it. The historical facts are very compatible with the play—tho several characters are in the book that had gone cut or combined in the play. It was an eye-opener to realize they had 8 children plus a foster daughter!! She was a resourceful, talented. Amazing woman. Like most brilliant people he was hard to live with but the good time we’re great. Highly recommend it.
I like fiction about historical events and the people involved.
Excellent book! Would love to have dinner with Eliza!
Wonderful. Very long book but it was certainly a page-turner. The book was an educational experience and enlightening. Our government was as toxic in that time period as it is presently.
great read
It is very interesting to hear about the historical figures, founders of our country, and the revolution.
Wonderful book! Loved getting to learn more about Hamilton.
Loved reading about Hamilton and his family.
Fabulous book about the wife of Alexander Hamilton! It is novelized, but heavily based on historical fact. Interesting and very well written.
I really enjoyed this book…very entertaining!!
Excellent read. Should read this before seeing the musical Hamilton..
I found this book to be very informative, which helped me to increase my education of the real Hamilton and his wife. Not only did he have strong principles, but he lived up to them, no matter who or what is was. The relationship he had with his wife and children show his softer side. Hamilton was a complex man who deserves the credit for putting America on the right road in its beginning days of becoming a strong nation.
Although the book is long, it’s so very interesting that I found it hard to put down. The reader becomes involved in seeing the real husband and wife and the many people they were involved with. History comes alive in this wonderful read.
It took me a while to find myself fully invested in Eliza’s story, and while I liked “America’s First Daughter” slightly better, that doesn’t diminish what I took away from this book in any way. If there is any one conclusion I can draw from historical fiction taking place in the realm of American politics, it is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And what’s the same is that they have always been vicious, polarizing, and merciless from the very moment this union of states was conceived.
What I liked about “My Dear Hamilton”:
The authors understand how to handle historical fiction – There is an art to this genre. The fine line between accurate portrayal of the facts we know carefully fleshed out with thoughtful supposition to bring the history to vivid life. I especially appreciated both the “Note to the Reader” at the beginning of the book and the “Note from the Authors” at its close, creating distinction between the two blended ingredients with careful explanations for the choices made in storytelling. I wish more historical fiction authors understood the value of including both.
The bombshells – And I don’t mean during warfare. It amazes me that after nearly forty years of reading about American history that I can feel like a plot twist caught me off guard, but they were there nonetheless. I feel like accomplishing this is like leveling up on a historical fiction game the authors were winning.
The scene where Alexander and Eliza were working on Washington’s Farewell Address – Of all the scenes in this book, this one felt so tangible that I felt like I was in the room.
The believability of Eliza’s emotions – Sometimes dramatic, other times coolly understated, running the gamut over everything a person can feel, they never seemed disproportionate to the circumstances. This made Eliza not only come to life but created a kinship with her as she struggled to find her place in and react to the rapidly changing world around her, both in the larger sense as well as in her home life. And yet her emotions never made her seem weak or whiny, just…human.
The juxtaposition of seeing Jefferson from different perspectives – After having him memorialized through the eyes of his daughter in “America’s First Daughter” and then witnessing how the Hamiltons saw him, I am curious where in the middle between these two impressions of him the actual Thomas Jefferson would have fallen. I wish I could recall how Hamilton was represented in the other book (if he was at all).
What I didn’t care for:
Hamilton’s neediness – I wanted to like Hamilton more, in addition to acknowledging the critical role he played in the birth of the country I love. His volatility, his extreme insecurity, the way his otherwise brilliant mind could not seem to see that some behavior cannot be justified and argued away. I suppose that is an unreasonable wish that a real person, about whom much is known and recorded, be someone different than they were in actuality. Nevertheless, I found myself so often disappointed in him, and perhaps that was merely effective telling of Eliza’s story and the disappointments with which she needed to come to terms.
We take history classes throughout our education and they fall woefully short. Some people we barely scratch upon their surface, much less delve into the complexities of their characters; others, we’re never properly introduced to at all. The nuances of history are routinely glossed over. The summaries don’t even come close to telling the whole story. As a result, we are left in the hands of historical fiction authors willing to “go where historians rightly fear to tread” (as the authors include in their closing note). Dray and Kamoie get it. They embrace their niche on bookshelves, respectful of the task they take on and delivering it in compelling form. I would gladly sign up to read any future collaborations upon which they embark.
A good look at History made more interesting