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Alexander Hamilton Paperback – March 29, 2005

by Ron Chernow (Author)

3,684 customer reviews

#12 Most Read

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A 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.

In the first full-length biography of Alexander Hamilton in decades, Ron Chernow tells the riveting story of a man who overcame all odds to shape, inspire, and scandalize the newborn America. According to historian Joseph Ellis, Alexander Hamilton is “a robust full-length portrait, in my view the best ever written, of the most brilliant, charismatic and dangerous founder of them all.”

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.

“Nobody has captured Hamilton better than Chernow” —The New York Times Book Review

Ron Chernow's new biography, Grant, will be published by Penguin Press in October 2017.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Building on biographies by Richard Brookhiser and Willard Sterne Randall, Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton provides what may be the most comprehensive modern examination of the often overlooked Founding Father. From the start, Chernow argues that Hamilton’s premature death at age 49 left his record to be reinterpreted and even re-written by his more long-lived enemies, among them: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe. Hamilton’s achievements as first Secretary of the Treasury, co-author of The Federalist Papers, and member of the Constitutional Convention were clouded after his death by strident claims that he was an arrogant, self-serving monarchist. Chernow delves into the almost 22,000 pages of letters, manuscripts, and articles that make up Hamilton’s legacy to reveal a man with a sophisticated intellect, a romantic spirit, and a late-blooming religiosity.

One fault of the book, is that Chernow is so convinced of Hamilton’s excellence that his narrative sometimes becomes hagiographic. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Chernow’s account of the infamous duel between Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804. He describes Hamilton’s final hours as pious, while Burr, Jefferson, and Adams achieve an almost cartoonish villainy at the news of Hamilton’s passing.

A defender of the union against New England secession and an opponent of slavery, Hamilton has a special appeal to modern sensibilities. Chernow argues that in contrast to Jefferson and Washington’s now outmoded agrarian idealism, Hamilton was "the prophet of the capitalist revolution" and the true forebear of modern America. In his Prologue, he writes: "In all probability, Alexander Hamilton is the foremost figure in American history who never attained the presidency, yet he probably had a much deeper and more lasting impact than many who did." With Alexander Hamilton, this impact can now be more widely appreciated. --Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

After hulking works on J.P. Morgan, the Warburgs and John D. Rockefeller, what other grandee of American finance was left for Chernow's overflowing pen than the one who puts the others in the shade? Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804) created public finance in the United States. In fact, it's arguable that without Hamilton's political and financial strategic brilliance, the United States might not have survived beyond its early years. Chernow's achievement is to give us a biography commensurate with Hamilton's character, as well as the full, complex context of his unflaggingly active life. Possessing the most powerful (though not the most profound) intelligence of his gifted contemporaries, Hamilton rose from Caribbean bastardy through military service in Washington's circle to historic importance at an early age and then, in a new era of partisan politics, gradually lost his political bearings. Chernow makes fresh contributions to Hamiltoniana: no one has discovered so much about Hamilton's illegitimate origins and harrowed youth; few have been so taken by Hamilton's long-suffering, loving wife, Eliza. Yet it's hard not to cringe at some of Hamilton's hotheaded words and behavior, especially sacrificing the well-being of his family on the altar of misplaced honor. This is a fine work that captures Hamilton's life with judiciousness and verve. Illus.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Paperback: 832 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books (March 29, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0143034758
ISBN-13: 978-0143034759
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.9 x 9.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3,684 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #86 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs

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Full and well-drawn portrait of Hamilton; less so for his opponents

ByDaniel Putmanon July 30, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is a beautifully rendered portrait of Hamilton, both his public life and his private life. As so many other reviewers have noted, the book is an example of first-rate biographical research and most of the book is well-written.

Up to chapter 16, “Dr. Pangloss,” the story is superbly told. But, when Thomas Jefferson enters Hamilton’s life, much of the book becomes a contrast between Hamilton, who had his own well-documented personal failings, with Jefferson who, if the text is to be believed, had nothing but personal failings. Jefferson is variously described as hypocritical, duplicitous and conniving. Undoubtedly, Jefferson fit much of this description but so did Hamilton in their Federalist-Republican (anti-Federalist) feud in the 1790’s. What bothered me was the unrelenting negative portrayal of Jefferson, Madison (after 1790) and John Adams. Hamilton is portrayed accurately and fully as a brilliant and decent man with some major flaws. Jefferson and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Madison and Adams, are portrayed as deeply flawed individuals who happened to have a few good points. The language reinforces this. If one were to count the negatively loaded adjectives and verbs accorded to Hamilton’s three main opponents, they would vastly outnumber any positive linguistic connotations. In order to sharpen Hamilton’s character portrayal, the image that Chernow gives of Hamilton’s opponents is, given other biographies of these men, less than just.

The name-calling, smear campaigns and character assassinations in the 1790’s are appalling (but less so given the 2016 Presidential campaign). However, a dozen years after independence and only a few years after the Constitution was ratified, the fears of the anti-Federalists were real ones. Jefferson’s and Madison’s hypocrisy and the foibles of John Adam’s personality notwithstanding, the concerns expressed were often genuine ones at that time about what kind of country the United States would be and how the Constitution should be interpreted. The possibility that the Jeffersonians may have had a point gets lost in Chernow’s constant barrage of claims about duplicity, hypocrisy and malevolent intentions.

So I thought this was a brilliant portrayal of the man who founded our economic and, to a large extent, our political system. The portrayal of Aaron Burr is excellent and the factors leading up to the duel are gripping. But the mid-section of the book would have been even stronger if Chernow had presented Hamilton’s foes in a fuller, less negatively charged light.

22 comments 189 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Thought-Provoking, Enlightening, Relevant

ByJeanne M. Halseyon September 18, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

"History is written by the winners," said Winston Churchill, so it is no wonder that Alexander Hamilton has been so misunderstood. Mr Chernow's meticulously researched and clearly written story of "the real" Hamilton -- of course, a huge resource for the wildly popular "Hamilton, the Revolution" Broadway musical --is thought-provoking, enlightening and entirely relevant to people living on the 21st century. A riveting personality revealed in a totally compelling book, this should be required reading for any history buff.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Ron Chernow writes his biography so that it reads almost like a novel

ByShe Who Loves Bookson November 27, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is one of those books that you wish would never end, and when it does, you have to sit and absorb everything you just read.

Ron Chernow writes his biography so that it reads almost like a novel. You can really get into Hamilton's story and feel like you know the Founding Fathers and those they interact with. We see how Hamilton had to fight some of the biggest names in American history to get his ideas heard, and how he worked tirelessly to defend the Constitution and keep the Union together.

I learned a lot about the people of this time in history. I was a little surprised to find out how they would attack each other anonymously in the press and how there was talk of some of the states seceding. The politics of the time surprised me as well. I didn't realize that the partisan fighting was so severe.

After reading everything that Hamilton did for the young country - including his work in constructing America's financial system which meant that the bankrupt country would be able to get credit - I realized how much Hamilton's work has been responsible for the country that America has become.

I highly recommend this book. I'm not at all surprised that this book inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to write his award winning play.

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Big Book for a Big American Founding Father

ByBeachmommaon April 29, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

this was a good book for me because I enjoy American history. I read First Daughter which was about Thomas Jefferson daughter Patsy right before I read this one. Realizing that the 2 were polar opposites and pretty much hated each other. Alexander Hamilton author used a lot of words that we don't commonly use now so it did require looking up quite a few of them which is easy if you are reading on Kindle .
The book was very detailed and it was obviously well researched Anyone who loves History and the founding of our country would probably enjoy . It is not a light read

daughter

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Every American Should Read THis Book

BySamuel B. Lopezon April 20, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I'm still reading this book, but am enjoying it greatly. I only recall the highlights of the America Revolution that I learned in school, plus don't think I was that interested in it back then. I can only speak about the first part of the book which is about the Revolution and the fight for the Constitution. The author, Mr. Chernow, appears to be making a statement about the importance of Alexander Hamilton during this period and the trust that George Washington had in him. He does not leave out details of other founding fathers, but the book is about Alexander Hamilton and the details regarding the other FF's is in relation to events that included Hamilton. It's no wonder that people balked at the current U.S. Treasurer wanting to remove Hamilton from the $10 bill, his vision of the United States was from position of wanting what is best for everyone.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

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Most recent customer reviews

nice

nice book it is really recommended to all readers !!!!! so if yiu are a high school kid then it is worth it

Published 5 hours ago by Francis K.

but am very pleased with book

Still reading, but am very pleased with book. Quality materials. Huge book.

Published 17 hours ago by Jennifer Keys

Five Stars

A very easy historical book about a truly great man

Published 21 hours ago by frand d

Five Stars

Truly enchants the reader from page 1!

Published 22 hours ago by Susie

Politics today reflected in yesteryear.

How lucky we were to have such a statesman, how revealing to see early politics and newspaper bias mirror current bile and vindictive comments found in internet trolling.

Published 1 day ago by Patricia W.

Five Stars

Particularly liked the writing and passage of the Constitution...incredible feat not likely possible today

Published 1 day ago by Philip A. Hutchison

We should all read

Deserves all the praise it received. This is not a fast book, mind you, but fascinating.

Published 1 day ago by E.C. Murray

it reads to much like a text book

Packed full of information. However, it reads to much like a text book.

Published 1 day ago by cowboy

Hamilton v Jefferson

Learned a great deal about the brutal politics of our founding fathers, some of which has been buried by our romanticism of that era.Read more

Published 3 days ago by KMN

Truly remarkable, especially at this time in our nation's history.

I found this book hard going at first but perseverance was more than rewarded in the end. I had not appreciated the magnitude of the chaos that characterized the birth of our...Read more

Published 3 days ago by Amazon customer in Boston

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