This was a 36 hour audiobook. Quite the undertaking, and I'm very glad I read it ("L" did not). After first falling in love with Lin Miranda's musical, based on this book, and listening to the musical soundtrack about 100 times, I decided to read (listen to) Chernow's book. Wow, I learned a lot.
Born in the West Indies to a mother who had left her husband, whom she hated, and later divorced by her husband in shame (her ex claimed she had affairs, which it seems she did) and a father whose Scottish lineage tracked to some Scot high-brow-ness (not a word... can't remember the title, maybe a Laird?). Anyway, dad runs off, and mom left poor because her ex-spouse denied her anything. When Alexander and his brother were still young, the mom gets sick and dies. Fast forward to Alexander's fellow community members raising money so he could go to America and get an education.
He made his mark. Brilliant beyond words, it's his financial system that got America out of its predicament with post-Revol War debt. He also instituted a tax system (which brought hate from many) to fuel the government. His excise tax on alcohol led to the Whiskey Rebellion. Hamilton saw the future downfall of the Union as a possibility due to the "masses" if they would not abide by the rule of law. He always warned of mobs overtaking the government. This was, of course, as the French decapitated Louis XVI...thus, mobs taking down their leaders was on everyone's minds.
Hamilton's accomplishments are beyond comparison. The first Secretary of the Treasury. Founder of a central bank for the US. Created the Customs Houses (for collection of import taxes), which necessitated creation of the Coast Guard. He called for a strong federal army - versus just state militias. There's more, much more.
His dark sides were there too. Vain. A philanderer. His sweet wife, Eliza (nee Schuyler, dau of Philip) suffered humiliation over Hamilton's affair with Mariah Reynolds, and the way it became known to all in the newspaper. And of course, they lost a son, age 19, to a duel. Senseless stupid custom that was considered "gallant" at the time.
Hamilton did not care for Aaron Burr's lack of conviction on topics of the day. They were friends, but when it came to politics, they clashed. That would spell Hamilton's demise - in a duel with Burr. Weehawken NJ, the same place where his eldest child, Philip Hamilton, died in a duel with George Eeker.
This book is a summary of America's birth, and the framers who acted as doulas/midwives. There was much drama, suffering, heroism, infighting, and this country wouldn't have really "launched" if not for Alexander Hamilton. Considered an illegitimate child, basically orphaned young, destitute, living in squalor and watching the worst of humanity (West Indies) at tender ages. Even so, he loved being part of the formation of the US. And he seemed to love being a husband and father, even as he cheated on his wife. He was right hand man to General (later Pres) Washington. But he wasn't a god. Not perfect. Even so, Americans owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his hard work (the man worked! Never taking vacations), and his striving for moralistic behavior (eg, he never took what wasn't his, etc).
All of this said, there were times when I wished the author had not gone into such great detail. But for such a great man, it was necessary.
Highly recommend the audio version.
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