I love reading about our founding fathers and the start of the nation. I jumped on the Alexander Hamilton bandwagon pretty early on. I used to be a member of a history book club, about the time Ron Chernow’s tome Alexander Hamilton came out, bought it and devoured it. I thought it was a 5-star book.
So when Hamilton, the Musical came out, I checked the soundtrack out from the library and started following the Broadway musical on social media. I couldn’t get enough. Then came the Tony awards, where I got to see the performance of “Guns and Ships” and watched the musical win countless awards.
Then there was the Hamilcon at the Brown County Kress Library and devouring every other Hamilton book the library had or could get. When Hamilton came to Fox Cities PAC, like any good mother, I took my four children, who’d been listening to the soundtrack along with me. It was amazing.
If you loved the musical as much as me and have been watching it repeatedly on Disney+, there are several books you might want to check out:
Of course, the book that started it all, Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton. (If you liked this as much as me, check out Chernow’s Washington as well for an equally good read.
Other good biographies include:
Duel: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, And The Future Of America
War of Two: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and the Duel that Stunned the Nation
If you know the musical by heart, check out Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeremy McCarter. It dissects the songs and where liberties were taken with the music and the real-life story.
Historical Fiction:
My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton From the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter (also an excellent book) comes the epic story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton—a revolutionary woman who, like her new nation, struggled to define herself in the wake of war, betrayal, and tragedy. Haunting, moving, and beautifully written, Dray and Kamoie used thousands of letters and original sources to tell Eliza’s story as it’s never been told before—not just as the wronged wife at the center of a political sex scandal—but also as a founding mother who shaped an American legacy in her own right.
I, Eliza Hamilton In this beautifully written novel of historical fiction, bestselling author Susan Holloway Scott tells the story of Alexander Hamilton’s wife, Eliza—a fascinating, strong-willed heroine in her own right and a key figure in one of the most gripping periods in American history.
The Hamilton Affair: A Novel A New York Times Bestseller and one of the best historical fiction books of 2016 and 2017!
Hamilton and Peggy! A Revolutionary Friendship Drawing from historical journals and letters, New York Times bestselling author Laura Elliot weaves a richly detailed tale about the extraordinary Peggy Schuyler and her revolutionary friendship with Alexander Hamilton. Perfect for fans of the smash musical sensation Hamilton.
Alex & Eliza (The Alex & Eliza Trilogy Book 1)(This is actually considered a Young Adult novel) From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Witches of East End and the Descendants series comes the love story of young Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler.
For Kids:
Alexander Hamilton: The Making of America
Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider
Who Was Alexander Hamilton? (I really enjoy this series of books)
There are plenty of other books out there about the Ten Dollar Founding Father, but these are some of the best.
This post contains affiliate links.
For more of my reviews, check out www.bargain-sleuth.com,
Join our Facebook page Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews or join our book group here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.