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| |  | Computers & Internet | Home » » » Alexander Hamilton | | | | | | | Description: | | Ron Chernow, the renowned author of Titan whom the New York Times has called "as elegant an architect of monumental histories as we’ve seen in decades," vividly re-creates the whole sweep of Alexander Hamilton’s turbulent life—his 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 research— including nearly fifty previously undiscovered essays highlighting Hamilton’s fiery journalism as well as his revealing missives to colleagues and friends—this 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. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Ron Chernow | | Hardcover:
| 832 pages | | Publisher:
| Penguin Press | | Publication Date:
| April 26, 2004 | | Package Length:
| 9.4 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.1 inches | | Package Height:
| 2.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 2.9 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 281 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
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 An Entertaining BiographyFeb 24, 2010
Though the length of the book is a bit intimidating, the narrative is such that it reads more like a story than a list of facts about a person. The entertainment value was quite high for this story.
The one thing that seems a bit odd is that I have never read a biography written by an obvious 'fanboy.' In all biographies and histories, the author always has a side...an agenda if you will, though most tend to cover it up. In this book, you can tell that the author takes Hamilton's side. Now in defense of the author, this might be due to the fact that many other books of the period paint a rather poor picture of Hamilton and his character. Maybe 'fanboy' is too strong a word but this is rather a counter argument to all the Hamilton as bad stories?
I must now read something on Adams and Jefferson as they are both depicted as, well, for lack of a better term, tools.
I must say that as a caveat to my high rating, I am fascinated by the time period encompassing the formation of the United States. I might have found this more interesting than someone who thinks the period boring or overdone.
 Great Biography of an Overlook Founding FatherJan 29, 2010
Because he was never president, people seem to forget about Alexander Hamilton. There is not much to add that has not already been said in these reviews, but I give this book my strongest endorsement. I neglected reading it for years because of the length, but once I did I was extremely impressed both by the book itself and Hamilton's life. You will learn a lot about Hamilton and the out sized role he played in the founding of the United States. You will also learned more about the debates that defined how much ability our federal government should have to act for the nation, as opposed to the individual states. Although states rights are important, our nation would not have flourished without the stronger federal government Hamilton argued for and Washington enacted. Many of Hamilton's opponents realized this when they reached power in the executive branch, notably Thomas Jefferson and James Madison (who had actually argued Hamilton's position previously).
Complete Look at Perhaps Our Most Important Founding FatherJan 25, 2010
When I first picked up this book, I was not sure if I was going to enjoy the subject. Alexander Hamilton is most famously known for dying in a duel, and his major contributions to our country involved his economic proposals. With that said, Chernow takes Hamilton's story and brings it to life. While reading this book, I felt like I was reading a fast-paced novel. The story of Hamilton's life from his earliest years through college and into the revolution were fascinating. The intellect of Hamilton was second to none and his story of rising up on pure talent during an age where family background was everything is inspirational. The story actually became more interesting when Hamilton became Washington's Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton basically invented our American credit/capitalist system and Chernow tells the story in a way that is easy to understand and completely enlightening. A fabulous book that I would recommend to any fan of history.
The most interesting founding father written by one of the best contemporary writersJan 20, 2010
It should be a law that all important figures in history receive the biographical treatment that Ron Chernow provides Alexander Hamilton. This could possibly be the best biography written for any founding father or for any figure in history for that matter. Chernow's Hamilton is so diverse and interesting that the 738 pages of text virtually fly by.
The reader is instantly impressed with Chernow's research and writing when in reading the first chapter we discover the vast amount of information uncovered concerning Hamilton's birth and childhood. Born in Nevis of the British West Indies to an unwed mother, Chernow colorfully describes growing up in the Caribbean and the young prodigy's early influences. The loss of his mother at an early age has an unmistakable affect as does the subsequent shuffling from one guardian to another. Here we see Hamilton's early intelligence as evidenced by many letters and writings. In fact it's his essay on the devastation to his home caused by a hurricane that ultimately gets him out of the Caribbean and into the British colony of New Jersey. He enrolls at King's College (present day Columbia) in New York and immediately embraces the revolutionary cause with many pamphlets and essay's that denounce the violence associated with most of the revolutionary causes, but advocates the idea of freedom and liberty.
Chernow's account of the early revolution and Hamilton's role in it is masterful. From the early taxation by the British to the beginning of the war, the sense of the coming storm is palpable. Hamilton's actions mirror the colonialists as outrage after outrage provoke pre-revolutionary war protest. In Hamilton, we discover that he best responds to the repressing treatment by the British with his intellect rather than violence. Again he becomes a profound voice in the cause publishing many pieces in the local newspapers and resorting to violence by joining the New York militia only when all else fails.
He establishes himself as a fearless and brave soldier ultimately receiving an invitation to become George Washington's chief of staff and acquits himself famously in the battle at Yorktown. Resigning his commission due to perceived inadequacies with the Congress, he then becomes elected to that same body. Chernow, now in his element, takes us through a complex period whereby Hamilton joins the 1787 Constitutional Convention and, with James Madison, pens the Federalist Papers soliciting support for the new constitution...he becomes the only New York representative to sign the historic document. Hamilton is at his most volatile and prolific at this point and Chernow is expert at cataloging the important points. It is also at this point that he encounters Aaron Burr and the two become polar opposites.
Washington appoints Hamilton to be the first Treasury Secretary and it's here that he establishes his reputation as the foremost forward thinker of the founding fathers. Organizing a form of government that in many cases exists today, Hamilton ruled over the financial sector of the country with an iron hand. Chernow describes the many policies enacted under Hamilton and also clarifies the issues that led to his resignation in 1794. The volatile Hamilton's reputation takes an irreversible turn with the emergence of the "Reynolds Affair" where romance, bribery and treachery reduce Hamilton to mere mortal status. The emergence of the two party political system is fostered by Hamilton and he cannot resist involvement...using what's left of his reputation, he influences many elections and appointments both on the state and federal level. Confrontations with Jefferson, Adams and the afore mentioned Burr place Hamilton at the political edge. In fact it's his involvement with the 1804 New York gubernatorial election where he fights to keep Vice President Burr from becoming governor that sets the stage for the famous duel fought at Weehawken, New Jersey. Chernow describes the duel in vivid detail making it impossible to not side with Hamilton...his death then becomes a testament to a noble life.The final installments of the book follow Burr post duel and an entire chapter is devoted to his wife Eliza. Chernow continues the eloquent writing to the end and serves Hamilton's reputation well.
A must read for the historian and anyone interested in the finest of writing, Ron Chernow deserves his reputation as an important chronicler of history's important figures. I give this my highest recommendation.
Blind AmbitionDec 23, 2009
Does Alexander Hamilton even qualify as a founding father? My non-exhaustive experience with that term suggests a tortured response: Hamilton was younger than all the founders and came late to the party, joining the Continental army directly from college. (John Adams apparently pointed out this "lack of historical perspective" on many occasions.) He seems to have been loathed by almost everyone, especially the troika of future Virginia-born presidents: Jefferson, Madison (his onetime collaborator on The Federalist) and Monroe. He often overused a poison pen and foolishly kept an extorting mistress.
Ron Chernow doesn't answer my question but he addresses pretty much everything else anyone may want to know about our first treasury secretary -- and for good measure rather convincingly makes the case for Hamilton's enshrinement. Chernow tells his story as a uniquely American one when America was barely born: an illegitimate Caribbean-born youngster who met all the enemies and faults named above with astounding brains and confidence. Beyond the monumental task of setting up the financial system of the fledgling United States (and thereby establishing its trade and credit statuses), he won the bedrock confidence of the man who -- at the time -- pushed all the other founders into the background: George Washington.
How Hamilton mastered his fate is a fascinating story and Chernow tells it with detail that sometimes proceeds at an almost daily pace. Merely observing that this biography on a less-than-prominent (to this point) founder coasts past eight hundred pages might be enough to give an interested reader pause. But the length and depth are not demerits; if anything, Chernow uses his extensive palette so well that I was inspired to delve into *other* biographies -- if only to affirm or critique his research on Hamilton's often vicious rivals (Jefferson and Adams in particular) and his centuries-old reputation as a "closet monarchist" and corruptible financier. This inspiration already had me checking the classic '20s-era historian Vernon Louis Parrington (also in Chernow's bibliography) who clearly falls into the Hamilton stereotype camp, observing that "[Hamilton] was frankly a monarchist, and he urged the monarchical principle with Hobbesian logic" and as a financier "accepted frankly the principle of exploitation."
If Chernow eviscerates these myths he unfortunately dabbles in a few of his own. The only major annoyance I had with this biography was an occasional unsupported conjecture on Hamilton's motives and influences ("could it be that he was really ...?"), particularly regarding his ignoble origins and relationship with Washington. Only the first third or so of the book gives in to this kind of pencil-twirling and I was far from sorry to see it go. The only other drawback worth mentioning is an occasional narrowing of the narrative: describing, say, Hamilton's family life in minutiae not really relevant to his other exploits. But neither of these difficulties detracts from the comprehensiveness or clarity of the work.
Parrington notes that Woodrow Wilson found Hamilton "a very great man ... but not a great American." Ron Chernow begs to differ and with this book most definitely makes his case. The fact that most Americans probably only know Hamilton as either the face on the 10-dollar bill or the losing dueler to the unscrupulous Aaron Burr is an unearned wound that Chernow's work does much to heal. I truly hope future historians adsorb the rehabilitation that shines through its unrelenting detail.
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