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)

Genius

Not knowing much about Alexander Hamilton except the negative tidbits heard hear and there, this excellent book exposes that hearsay as the echo of the character assassination of his political enemies from so long ago. Mr. Hamilton had his defects like everyone else. However in perspective with the other great and famous men of his time, that were also influential on the formation of the United States, this book clearly illuminates what a tremendous and productive (and undervalued) genius Mr. Hamilton was.

Because of the author's attention to detail and meticulous way of unfolding events, things really came to life. You really get a sense of how it must have felt to live through those politically turbulent times. If nothing else, and assuming you enjoy American History, I think you will gain a new insight into those dimensions.

Excellent biography. Well read.

Chernow's argument, well-supported by the thoroughly researched and explicated primary sources, is that history has not done justice to Hamilton. An ingenious and assertive character, though not without the flaws of pride and vanity found in many of the founding fathers, Hamilton comes to life in this biography. Starting with Hamilton's obscure and guarded parentage, the book moves at just the right pace, delving deep into some of the most interesting and little-known of Hamilton's contributions and exploits. The detailed rendering of his youth adds strength to many of Chernow's inferences into Hamilton's motivations.

One of the (few) problems with biographies like this, and possible a reason why Hamilton has receive short shrift until recently, is that the narrow focus of the biography leaves you feeling that Hamilton acted nearly alone, acting against the maniacal wiles of Madison, Adams, and Jefferson to preserve his version of democracy. Though a fantastic read, this should not be a reader's only foray into the lives of the founding fathers.

Chernow works beautifully to correct what is, very likely, a historical snub toward Hamilton's contributions to the constitution and early American government. It can safely be said that Chernow has not done historical justice to one of the greatest Americans of any generation.

A Pleasant Surprise

This book is well produced, well written, and well narrated. I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in American History. However, I must warn you that the author is sometimes so praising of Hamilton that it made me want to gag.

The most underappreciated Founding Father

I had no idea how incredible Hamilton's life was. This story has pretty much everything: illegitimate birth, extramarital affairs, bitter career rivalries, brilliant political discourses, passionate pursuit of causes, military adventures. I don't necessarily support everything Hamilton worked for, but he argued persuasively for his point of view. In an era where opinions and sound bites seem to suffice for rational debate for so many people, you have to appreciate someone who worked out detailed rational supporting arguments on paper for his ideas. I'm referring primarily to the Federalist Papers, but there was a good deal more than that. The Founding Fathers aren't remembered as being especially savvy, but Hamilton rose to the challenge and was able to conceive a financial system that pretty much rescued the fledgling republic from disaster. Unmentioned in my school history days is that Hamilton was at Washington's side as his aide-de-camp all through the Revolutionary War. This country owes so much to Hamilton and it's a shame that all most people remember is that stupid duel with Aaron Burr.

An Unabashed Defense of a Flawed Hero

Despite growing up in NYC and now living in VA, I had felt some indifference to this man. Flawed pain in the neck, I have come to realize what a great person he was, and the impact of his genius in the creation of this nation. I have come to greatly admire him despite his reckless, impatient personality. A true genuus and hero. I always hated Aaron Burr; now I have a deeper conviction of its truth.

Eye-opening expose of founding fathers

This biography is so interesting and very timely. Some of the issues we are dealing with today are rooted in the initial disputes amongst the nation's founders. I had been previously oblivious of the unsavory aspects of our founding fathers and their squabbling, especially Adams and Jefferson.
The reader is mostly excellent despite falling into the trap of mispronouncing "coup de grâce" without the final consonant, which would give it "a blow of grease" meaning.
Chernow sometimes presents unsubstantiated suppositions as facts - the book would be better without indulging in those guesses. But all in all this is a fabulous book and gave inspiration and material to the amazing Hamilton musical. So bravo!

Hamilton as you've never heard before!

Great history. If you're a history fan and think you know about the founding fathers and founding of America pick this up. Such a compelling story and told so well. I also love this narrator having heard him read other great histories as well.

Exceptionally well written and narrated

Captivating, well written and well narrated book. Covers the period in which Hamilton lived, but is intensely personal in depicting Hamilton as a human who embodies greatness and fatal flows

loved it

hung on every word. moving. was nearly ignorant of Hamilton's contributions. I highly recommend it.

Very Good Biography

This book is very well written and very well read.

It is very long so if you are only a little interested you might want to avoid.