Alexander Hamilton

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 35 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Hamilton! In the first full-length biography of Alexander Hamilton in decades, National Book Award winner 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.

©2004 Ron Chernow (P)2004 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

• George Washington Book Prize Winner, 2005

"Comprehensive and superbly written." (Booklist)
"This is a fine work that captures Hamilton's life with judiciousness and verve." (Publishers Weekly)
"Literate and full of engaging historical asides. By far the best of the many lives of Hamilton now in print." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Scott Brick delivers a highly professional, straightforward narration that holds one's interest throughout. Straight narrative can become boring, and Brick is never that. Nor does he become lazy in the course of 36 hours. His voice and evident interest are fresh throughout." (AudioFile)

wow, what a story !

I loved this book. very well written, and apparently deeply researched! I was inspired by the Hamilton musical, and I am so glad to have listened to this book and expanded my knowledge!

The more things change ...

Sure - I could list the myriad reasons why everyone should read this book - but what fascinated me the most is how there were moments when I thought I was reading this mornings newspaper. Nothing - and I mean NOTHING has changed in our political discourse. Hamilton Adams Jefferson Trump Pelosi Shiff. It’s just remarkable. Oh - and the Majesty of Chernow’s command of the language as well as including the magnificent eighteenth century English was remarkable. Finally I though Scott Brick did a top shelf job. I had read the book first and this was my first ever Audible - so I would certainly recommend it. Look forward to the next one!

excellent

Book is so good. Great narration and writing style. I have since added some of Hamiltons writing style to my work emails, I am not so sure my colleagues appreciate it as much though.

Rob G

After listening to the Hamilton soundtrack, i was inspired to find out more of this Founding Father. Ron Chernow’s book is beyond fascinating and educational. I was entertained from star to finish by the amount of details he produced in this epic story. I hate that it has come to an end.

Fell in love with the Hamiltons

Well researched. Well written. The family is so interesting in such an interesting time in history.

A great book with an even better narration!

A book well worth listening to. If you are a fan of the play, its great to listen to this book and catch snippets pulled directly from this book.

Even better than you might expect

If you found this because of the Miranda musical, welcome - but this is even better than the show. This may be the best biography of all time. I can relisten to this over and over and never get bored of the story.

Well Worth 36 Hours of Your Time

What a gripping biography. I would’ve taken another 36 hours of this story. Chernow’s prose is so lyrical, it’s easy to see how this book inspired a musical. Scott Brick’s narration brings some entertainment to the infrequent dull patches. (Even if his French pronunciations leave much to be desired.) Overall, well worth the time and investment to finish.

Fascinating!

This book was long but contains fascinating information about Hamilton and his contemporaries. Recommended for history buffs as well as those interested in learning more about the background for the ‘Hamilton’ play.

This book has enlightened me

This is the first book of history that I enjoyed, thanks to the author and the narrator.