Alexander Hamilton
by: Ron Chernow
List Price: $35.00
Prices subject to change.
Price: $10.09
You Save: $24.91 (71%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Amazon.com Review:
Building on biographies by Richard Brookhiser and Willard Sterne Randall, Ron Chernows Alexander Hamilton provides what may be the most comprehensive modern examination of the often overlooked Founding Father. From the start, Chernow argues that Hamiltons 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. Hamiltons 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 Hamiltons 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 Hamiltons excellence that his narrative sometimes becomes hagiographic. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Chernows account of the infamous duel between Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804. He describes Hamiltons final hours as pious, while Burr, Jefferson, and Adams achieve an almost cartoonish villainy at the news of Hamiltons 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 Washingtons 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
Product Description:
Ron Chernow, the renowned author of Titan whom the New York Times has called "as elegant an architect of monumental histories as weve seen in decades," vividly re-creates the whole sweep of Alexander Hamiltons turbulent lifehis exotic, brutal upbringing; his titanic feuds with celebrated rivals; his pivotal role in defining the shape of the federal government and the American economy; his shocking illicit romances; his enlightened abolitionism; and his famous death in a duel with Aaron Burr in July 1804. Drawing upon extensive, unparalleled researchincluding nearly fifty previously undiscovered essays highlighting Hamiltons fiery journalism as well as his revealing missives to colleagues and friendsthis biography of the extraordinarily gifted founding father who galvanized, inspired, and scandalized the newborn nation is the work by which all others will be measured.
Building on biographies by Richard Brookhiser and Willard Sterne Randall, Ron Chernows Alexander Hamilton provides what may be the most comprehensive modern examination of the often overlooked Founding Father. From the start, Chernow argues that Hamiltons 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. Hamiltons 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 Hamiltons 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 Hamiltons excellence that his narrative sometimes becomes hagiographic. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Chernows account of the infamous duel between Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804. He describes Hamiltons final hours as pious, while Burr, Jefferson, and Adams achieve an almost cartoonish villainy at the news of Hamiltons 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 Washingtons 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
Product Description:
Ron Chernow, the renowned author of Titan whom the New York Times has called "as elegant an architect of monumental histories as weve seen in decades," vividly re-creates the whole sweep of Alexander Hamiltons turbulent lifehis exotic, brutal upbringing; his titanic feuds with celebrated rivals; his pivotal role in defining the shape of the federal government and the American economy; his shocking illicit romances; his enlightened abolitionism; and his famous death in a duel with Aaron Burr in July 1804. Drawing upon extensive, unparalleled researchincluding nearly fifty previously undiscovered essays highlighting Hamiltons fiery journalism as well as his revealing missives to colleagues and friendsthis biography of the extraordinarily gifted founding father who galvanized, inspired, and scandalized the newborn nation is the work by which all others will be measured.
Alternate Versions:
Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category:
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » Bargain Books » History » General
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » Bargain Books » History » United States
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » Bargain Books » Biography » General
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » Bargain Books » Biography » General AAS
- Books » Subjects » Biographies & Memoirs » Historical » General
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Kindle edition is flawed
The biography is great (as the reviews attest) but the Kindle edition is flawed and the reading experience is severly compromized: one can't click on a footnote to get to it.
Rating: 
- Highly Informative book of Hamilton's Life and Times
I found this book to be very well researched and interesting. Not only did I get a clearer picture of Alexander Hamilton but the creation of the United States. This book is not only about Hamilton but about the times in which he lived, from pre-revolution, the Revolution, the first Presidency, the advent of political parties and beyond, this book walks you through it.
This country owes so much to Alexander Hamilton it is a shame more people do not understand his contributions. I find ... Read More
Rating: - A Critical Book for All, but Particularly for High School Students
Gads!An eight hundred plus page book!Please do not let that bother you in the least.Through Ron Chernow's elegant prose, the reader will be taken on a journey that travels at Warp speed.Alexander Hamilton is an easy, comfortable read.Completely captivating and engrossing.
On each page, Chernow masterfully brings Hamilton to life; from his birth as a bastard child born into poverty in the West Indies, to his passage to America where through sheer force of will, exceptional intellect, ... Read More
Rating: 
- effusive and overwhelming with facts, like Hamilton himself
Sometimes too much detail can be a bad thing. Obviously a book of this length, one would expect it to be weighty in details. The book is obviously centered on Hamilton, at the frequent expense of Jefferson, Madison, and Adams, who are consistently portrayed as rakes and imbeciles compared to Hamilton. Still, this book was very informative and enjoyable. Get the audio version and listen to it while you're driving to and from work. I don't think I could have read this 800-page behemoth.
Rating: - Absolutely wonderful, poignant life of a self-made man
I truly enjoyed this poignant touching life of Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant and self-made man whose brilliance created the country we live in now!
- Kindle edition is flawedThe biography is great (as the reviews attest) but the Kindle edition is flawed and the reading experience is severly compromized: one can't click on a footnote to get to it.
- Highly Informative book of Hamilton's Life and TimesI found this book to be very well researched and interesting. Not only did I get a clearer picture of Alexander Hamilton but the creation of the United States. This book is not only about Hamilton but about the times in which he lived, from pre-revolution, the Revolution, the first Presidency, the advent of political parties and beyond, this book walks you through it.
This country owes so much to Alexander Hamilton it is a shame more people do not understand his contributions. I find ... Read More
- A Critical Book for All, but Particularly for High School StudentsGads!An eight hundred plus page book!Please do not let that bother you in the least.Through Ron Chernow's elegant prose, the reader will be taken on a journey that travels at Warp speed.Alexander Hamilton is an easy, comfortable read.Completely captivating and engrossing.
On each page, Chernow masterfully brings Hamilton to life; from his birth as a bastard child born into poverty in the West Indies, to his passage to America where through sheer force of will, exceptional intellect, ... Read More
- effusive and overwhelming with facts, like Hamilton himselfSometimes too much detail can be a bad thing. Obviously a book of this length, one would expect it to be weighty in details. The book is obviously centered on Hamilton, at the frequent expense of Jefferson, Madison, and Adams, who are consistently portrayed as rakes and imbeciles compared to Hamilton. Still, this book was very informative and enjoyable. Get the audio version and listen to it while you're driving to and from work. I don't think I could have read this 800-page behemoth.
- Absolutely wonderful, poignant life of a self-made manI truly enjoyed this poignant touching life of Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant and self-made man whose brilliance created the country we live in now!
