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Alexander Hamilton
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Check link for latest rating. ( 195,868 ratings, 10,726 reviews)
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Alexander Hamilton
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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.
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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