Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton: A Master Passion

I know very little about American history, and all I knew about Alexander Hamilton is that he's rather a hero to several friends of mine. After reading Juliet Waldron's excellent novel about him I'm starting to see why. Waldron is a novelist who can be relied upon to have researched her subject thoroughly, so, in reading about people and an era unfamiliar to me, I felt I was in safe hands. But don't let me give the impression that this book is a dry piece of work -- on the contrary, it's extremely readable, in fact I found it close to unputdownable as the story took shape and the various characters were introduced. It's well paced, full of sympathetic and interesting people, and every historical detail is convincing. Hamilton feels very real as his personal story unfolds from a tough childhood to the start of a famous career. I'm eager to follow his story in the next novel about him.

This author certainly does know how to conjure up the 18th century, whether in Europe or in Colonial America! She brings the same vivid touch to this story of the passionate, sometimes tumultuous marriage between the one true genius of the American Revolution and his devoted, much-put-upon wife, as she did to the life of Mozart and Constanze in her novel "Mozart's Wife."Intellectually, Hamilton was a dazzling figure, but also a deeply flawed man who never quite overcame his traumatic childhood. Waldron suggests he was sexually abused as a boy— raped repeatedly by the man who employed him. Although there’s no proof of that, and it’s not something a historian could suggest, for a novelist it makes good psychological sense. Sometimes sexually abused children grow up to be sexually promiscuous adults, which Hamilton certainly was.There’s less explicit sex in this novel than Waldron's "My Mozart," but there’s enough to suggest the passionate connection the couple enjoyed. The author is also very good in describing the hectic family life of the Hamilton’s and their numerous, very individual children.The only aspect of the novel that struck me as “off” was the author's portrayal of George Washington as such a frigid, distant figure, and a man who had no rapport with children. She apparently forgot (or didn’t know?) that GW raised his wife’s children and also several of his step-grandchildren, as well as assorted other young wards, and he was devoted to all of them. She also pays little or no attention to the fact that Washington made considerable efforts to include Hamilton among his intimate friends, but the younger man always rebuffed him, and eventually broke with his mentor over a trifle. She doesn’t even include a mention of Washington’s death, which plunged the entire country into mourning!

This was at once, easy to read, very light and yet quite deep into the happenings in the lives of the Hamiltons. Overall I enjoyed it and found it to be a great addition to my knowledge on Alexander Hamilton. I've read about four books since I saw the play and feel sufficiently educated regarding the facts and the fantasy written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He admits he made some things up, but he did write an extremely entertaining story. Seeing the play inspired me to learn more about a man they taught us virtually nothing about in school. This book helped add to my education.

Pretty much fan fiction in a book, a nice read for any Hamilton fans that want to fantasize about the nature of their marriage based on the musical but not historical accurate

Thank you, Juliet (my mummy’s name, so a great one), for telling their story. Thank you.What a great story of Alexander and Eliza — so well-written and researched. Great job.

Especially interesting if you live in the Albany NY area.The author gives one the feeling that we actually know the characters. There is attention to detail like the description of the hand painted wall paper in the Schuyler Mansion.I can picture The Pastures as it once was and I can see the "Normans kill" which runs behind our home.This book is a detailed telling of a time that was crucial to us as a country and gives insight into the complexities and the sacrifices of our founding fathers and mothers. It is also a love story as well as a story of a historical family. The book has helped to make it all come to life for me. I'm glad I purchased it and have it in my e-book library

This is my 3rd book to read about Eliza and Alexander Hamilton. All three had similar stories about their meeting and marriage. One book told more about his infidelities. One book brought a relationship with Lafayette and the Hamiltons. This book hit somewhere in the middle. I especially enjoy reading about early revelation times and the struggles we faced during those times. I enjoyed this book.

I was drawn to read this after falling in love with the musical, and I loved every bit of the passion and heartache that I learned

Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schulyer by Juliet WaldronI knew nothing about Alexander Hamilton and his wife until I read this informative historical novel, which traces his career and marriage.From his birth as an illegitimate child in 1755, in Charleston, the capital of Nevis, a British leeward island, to his death when he died in 1816 on the day after a duel that Aaron Burr challenged him to.Alexander, an orphan, endured many hardships when he went to New York to study law, fought in the American War of Independence, became one of George Washington’s aides, then became a politician. In 1879 he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury.At first, Alexander courted Elizabeth Schulyer because her father was a wealthy Dutch patroon who owned a plantation, and schooners to carry imported goods down river to Albany, where he sold them at a large profit. When they became better acquainted, he fell in love with her.Elizabeth’s capable Dutch mother taught her “it is important to work in the kitchen to know how good food is made,” and engaged her in the endless business of eggs to be gathered, fowl to be tended, bread to bake, hams to be cured, clothes to sew and work in the house and garden.”Elizabeth returned Alexander’s love. “With sufficient spirit, and her father under her thumb, she gained his consent to marry Alexander.”Throughout their marriage, Elizabeth’s training to be an efficient housewife and mother, helped her manage their home and children with a small income while Alexander was engaged by politicsThis book does not read as though it is historical non-fiction. Throughout it I was gripped by the couple’s romance and deep love for each other, although charismatic Alexander was not an ideal husband.Congratulations to Ms Waldron on her research, her vivid descriptions of people and places. I strongly recommend this novel to historical fiction fans.

As soon as this book came in I was very excited to start reading! I love Juliet Waldron's historic fiction books a lot and wasn't disappointed after I've read this and Mozart's Wife. Totally recommend!