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)

Every aspect well done

This was an extremely well-written biography. The non-fiction was related in a way that allowed the reader to imagine the story. Hamilton, like many great men (and women) of history was fallibly human. But his humanity may be forgiven for its very gift of singularity. When you look at a life or the events and character that define a life as it simply is--neither to be judged good, nor to be judged bad; no right or wrong (for all things can prove valuable and all things can prove profligate)--you are left with a life full of unique individualism never to be repeated as just such again. Everyone should have their biography written by someone who makes them intimately yours. Chernow has that gift. Scott Brick narrates with the same practical wonder.

Perfection

Audiobook perfection. A riveting story well-told by a master scribe and one of our finest narrators.

Held up to my very high expectations

I now know what all the fuss is about. A necessary and proper biography for anyone who wants to understand our country's beginnings.

Profound and moving!

What a founding father, Alexander Hamilton was! I was totally captivated by Mr. Chernow’s articulate and deep look into the life and times of this man and all those he touched. Excellent listen! Thanks, Ron Chernow and Alexander Hamilton!

Spectacular, informative, brilliant

This book was incredible. The delivery was very good and engaging. It provided so much insight not only into Alexander Hamilton's life much of the historical context and the other founding fathers involved in the revolutionary period. Exceptional and time well spent

Lovely retelling of the life of a great figure.

This is a very details biography of one of The United States States more important figures in it's history. The book is long as there was much to cover, Hamilton did more in his 40+ years than most families can do in generation. I greatly enjoyed listening to this book on my longs drives to work.

Compelling from start to finish

I just can't say enough about the quality of this biography. It's loaded with insight and educated psychological speculation; it's a truly wholistic portrait. It makes me want to continue reading about this eccentric cast of characters from America's revolutionary enlightenment. Bravo!!

Excellent!

One of the best biographies I ever "read". Well written. the unabridged version is full of little extra vignettes that help to bring the people, events, and places alive.

Long But Great

It was a long book to listen to, but is all worth it. Being able to listen to the history of one of Americas greatest men was fantastic.

Well Researched and Sourced

An amazing account of an influential and incredibly interesting founding father. Cherie clearly had to sift through thousands of documents and personal letters to piece together this masterpiece.