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Alexander Hamilton

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( 195,868 ratings, 10,726 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow is a comprehensive biography that chronicles the life of one of America's founding fathers. The book delves deeply into Hamilton's childhood, his rise as a revolutionary leader, his political career, and his lasting impact on the formation of the United States. Chernow's meticulous research provides a vivid portrait of Hamilton's dynamic and sometimes controversial life.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by American history and want an in-depth look at one of its most influential Founding Fathers. This riveting biography delves into the dramatic life, brilliant mind, and lasting impact of Alexander Hamilton, providing a fresh perspective on his significant contributions and turbulent times.

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The biography of one of America's founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, which became the basis for the hugely successful Broadway show Hamilton.

The bestselling life of one of America's founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, which became the basis for the hugely successful Broadway show Hamilton.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow is a meticulously researched biography that chronicles the life of one of America's most influential yet misunderstood founding fathers. Chernow's narrative sweeps you into the tumultuous world of post-Revolutionary America, where Hamilton's intellect and ambition shaped the fledgling nation's future.

Hamilton's rise from an illegitimate, self-taught orphan in the Caribbean to becoming a key architect of the United States as George Washington's aide-de-camp and the inaugural Secretary of the Treasury is nothing short of astonishing. Chernow vividly portrays Hamilton as a relentless advocate for a strong central government and a modern financial system, delving into his visionary yet hotly debated policies that laid the foundation for America's economic infrastructure.

Chernow’s biography sheds light on the deeply personal aspects of Hamilton’s life, from his passionate and enduring marriage to his beloved wife Eliza, to his scandalous public affair with Maria Reynolds. The book captures his numerous fierce rivalries with contemporaries like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, James Monroe, and Aaron Burr, culminating in the infamous duel with Burr that tragically ended Hamilton's life in July 1804.

More than merely a recounting of historical events, Alexander Hamilton is a humanising portrait of a complex, driven man who played a pivotal role in the formation of the American republic. Chernow dispels many myths and provides a nuanced perspective on Hamilton's contributions and character.

"I was swept up by the story. I thought it 'out-Dickens' Dickens in the unlikeliness of this man's rise from his humble beginnings in Nevis in the Caribbean, to changing, helping shape our young nation. And it's uniquely an immigrant story and it's uniquely a story about writers... It's an amazing biography." – LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA

Chernow's masterful biography not only offers a comprehensive account of Hamilton's life but also underscores his lasting impact on American politics and economics. This book will leave readers with a profound appreciation of one of America's most dynamic and forward-thinking founding fathers.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Ron Chernow's biography, Alexander Hamilton, is praised for its extensive research and detailed account of Hamilton's life and the controversies he faced. Reviewers from The Guardian and The Spectator commend it as a mammoth and magnificent work, while The Times highlights its elegant writing. The New York Times Book Review asserts that Chernow captures Hamilton exceptionally well, and Military History Monthly notes Chernow's adept handling of the historical context. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Michael Gove also extol its narrative brilliance and recreation of the period.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781800244399

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Apollo

Illustration: 2 x 8pp b&w illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 145.0mm

Height: 228.0mm

Weight: 920g

Pages: 832

About the Author

Ron Chernow is the Pulitzer prize-winning author of Washington: A Life. Alexander Hamilton and Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr were both nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award in biography. Chernow lives in New York.

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