Customer Reviews

Alexander Hamilton and the Idea of Republican Government

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I discovered Prof. Stourzh's book by accident in 1974 in a Dallas bookstore at a time when I was writing a term paper on the statesmanship of Alexander Hamilton. Every book (then current) that I came across seemed to dwell on collateral things (e.g. the Jefferson vs. Hamilton thing, or the "Maria Reynolds Affair" etc.) that purported to explain Hamilton as "man and politician", and therefore explain Hamilton's "politics". But since I was already well read in Aristotle, Cicero, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Locke, Montesquieu, The Federal Convention Notes, The Federalist, de Tocqueville, etc.; and since I was already familiar with THE quintessential theme running throughout all of political philosophy -- namely, the critical role of "founder" in the establishment of good government -- I found every book on Hamilton to be grossly inadequate for my needs, and even a bit presumptuous and overrated . . . that is, until I came across Prof. Stourzh's book on Alexander Hamilton & The Idea of Republican Government.

Here is an author who hits the bull's eye of the target. With the exception of only one other author (Professor Paul Eidelberg, who has written excellently on The American Founding), I seriously doubt there will ever be another writer on Hamilton who will surpass Professor Stourzh's understanding of Alexander Hamilton as Hamilton understood himself -- a statesman of the first order, founder of republican government, driven by that ruling passion of the noblest minds: Honor. Professor Stourzh's book captures this essence. There is tremendous depth to this book. Therefore, you don't read this book -- you STUDY this book, in exactly the same way that you study Aristotle's POLITICS or Machiavelli's PRINCE. That is, word-by-word, line-by-line, paragraph-by-paragraph, and then you start over again.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON & THE IDEA OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT is one of those "great books" that is truly a classic. That is, its value is universal and timeless. The fact that this book is out-of-print is, ironically, a testament to its enduring value. The fact that this book is out-of-print means that its would-be purchaser must search long and hard to find this treasure trove. This effort only prepares the reader for what he must do, next, if he is to truly appreciate this book once the reader finds it: Again, this book is intended to be read word-by-word, line-by-line, paragraph-by-paragraph, and then you start over again, this time with pen & paper in hand. This book should be on the shelf of every man and woman who is a serious student of republican government, whether he or she be teacher, professor, lawyer, judge, politician, or aspiring statesman -- or plain old, ordinary citizen.

In short, Professor Stourzh is THE author on Alexander Hamilton who understands Hamilton and Hamilton's Statesmanship, BEST.

This is the best book on Hamilton ever written and among the best books on republican government. It is truly a joy to read, a "page-turner" even if you never thought a page-turner possible among academic books.