Alexander Hamilton
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Alexander Hamilton description
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 |
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Alexander Hamilton Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥
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Simply superb
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I finished David McCullough's biography of John Adams shortly before reading this book. McCullough's book was one of the finest biographies that I have ever read, but in my opinion this book is even better. To be fair to David McCullough, Ron Chernow had much more to work with, as Alexander Hamilton was a much more interesting character than John Adams.
Ron Chernow has produced a well-documented biography and an immensely rewarding book. In his hands, Hamilton's life reads as it was a work of fiction created by Charles Dickens, Horatio Alger and Joan Collins, as written by Samuel Elliot Morrison. Few men have started so low on the social ladder, with so many impediments to success but rose so far as Alexander Hamilton. While I knew the outline of Hamilton's early life, I did not realize the degree to which it was truly Dickensian and the degree to which he was a truly self-made man, in the mold of a character from a Horation Alger story. His life was plagued by scandal (mostly self inflicted) of the sort created by Jackie Collins.
I knew he was on George Washington's staff during the Revolutionary War, but I did not realize that he was in effect Washington's chief of staff. I knew that he was the first Secretary of the Treasury, but I did not realize the extent to which he created the financial structure of the United States. I knew of his involvement with the Federalist Party, but not that he was a driving force behind the party and that to some he was the Federalist Party. I knew that he experienced difficulties with Jefferson and John Adams (as well as with many others), but I did not understand the depths of these conflicts or their origins until I read this book.
While highly readable and immensely entertaining, the book is nonetheless a work of great scholarship. I expected a well-written book, but one that was based primarily on previous works, but the book is much more. It is rich in interpretation and analysis as well as interesting details. Also, as the lengthy acknowledgement section points out, Chernow did original research in the West Indies, Scotland and in various American archives, unearthing a considerable amount or original material.
I have one caveat, although a very minor one. This is a partisan biography (as are most) and some scholars may disagree with Chernow on some points. Chernow, does not, however, shy away from exposing Hamilton's faults and strives to paint a balanced although admittedly partisan picture.
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