Alexander Hamilton

De: Ron Chernow

Narrado por: Scott Brick

Duración: 35 h y 58 m

Resumen del Editor

The inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Hamilton! In the first full-length biography of Alexander Hamilton in decades, National Book Award winner Ron Chernow tells the riveting story of a man who overcame all odds to shape, inspire, and scandalize the newborn America.

According to historian Joseph Ellis, Alexander Hamilton is “a robust full-length portrait, in my view the best ever written, of the most brilliant, charismatic and dangerous founder of them all.”

Few figures in American history have been more hotly debated or more grossly misunderstood than Alexander Hamilton. Chernow’s biography gives Hamilton his due and sets the record straight, deftly illustrating that the political and economic greatness of today’s America is the result of Hamilton’s countless sacrifices to champion ideas that were often wildly disputed during his time.

“To repudiate his legacy,” Chernow writes, “is, in many ways, to repudiate the modern world.” Chernow here recounts Hamilton’s turbulent life: an illegitimate, largely self-taught orphan from the Caribbean, he came out of nowhere to take America by storm, rising to become George Washington’s aide-de-camp in the Continental Army, coauthoring The Federalist Papers, founding the Bank of New York, leading the Federalist Party, and becoming the first Treasury Secretary of the United States.

Historians have long told the story of America’s birth as the triumph of Jefferson’s democratic ideals over the aristocratic intentions of Hamilton. Chernow presents an entirely different man, whose legendary ambitions were motivated not merely by self-interest but by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build the foundations of American prosperity and power. His is a Hamilton far more human than we’ve encountered before—from his shame about his birth to his fiery aspirations, from his intimate relationships with childhood friends to his titanic feuds with Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Monroe, and Burr, and from his highly public affair with Maria Reynolds to his loving marriage to his loyal wife Eliza. And never before has there been a more vivid account of Hamilton’s famous and mysterious death in a duel with Aaron Burr in July of 1804.

Chernow’s biography is not just a portrait of Hamilton, but the story of America’s birth seen through its most central figure. At a critical time to look back to our roots, Alexander Hamilton will remind readers of the purpose of our institutions and our heritage as Americans.

©2004 Ron Chernow (P)2004 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

• George Washington Book Prize Winner, 2005

"Comprehensive and superbly written." (Booklist)
"This is a fine work that captures Hamilton's life with judiciousness and verve." (Publishers Weekly)
"Literate and full of engaging historical asides. By far the best of the many lives of Hamilton now in print." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Scott Brick delivers a highly professional, straightforward narration that holds one's interest throughout. Straight narrative can become boring, and Brick is never that. Nor does he become lazy in the course of 36 hours. His voice and evident interest are fresh throughout." (AudioFile)

we've dealt with people like number 45 before

Would you consider the audio edition of Alexander Hamilton to be better than the print version?

Jefferson proved that tongue lashing is worse than physical injury. The story of Alexander Hamilton is gripping if you've ever been subject to extortion from on high. It's gripping if you know how to solve problems that other people consider outside your jurisdiction. It's gripping if you ever imagined that politicians were just two shallow faces (evidently Hamilton was much more than that). It's gripping if you ever wondered why the US way of life is the way it is. Also it's gripping because reader Scott Brick makes it gripping, but there's no question that he had good material to work with here; so, yes, the audio version is better than the print version..

What did you like best about this story?

The level of detail. It didn't interfere in any way with the magnetic attraction of the plot.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Brick has used a reserved and sympathetic voice for this reading that works perfectly.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The horror of what "they" did to that poor man... The extortion section helped me better understand why we (I) react so badly to extortion.

Any additional comments?

The great American hatred of intelligence comes fully to light, and given our current political situation, I conclude that this has not diffused in 200 years. Why oh why, after so many years of near universal tertiary education do we hate intelligence so much we make up calumny to squash it???

A fascinating man and a well-told story

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The detailed story of Hamilton's brilliance is very well told. So much so, that his self-destructive nature and political gaffes seem particulary tragic. Despite knowing the fate that awaited him at his meeting with Burr, I couldn't help but feel terribly sad as the book described the duel and his death. While one could argue that Hamilton was already politically marginalized at the time of his death, this book's discussion of his life and accomplishments can't help but leave you speculating how different the country might have been today if he had lived 20-30 years longer.

The greatest founding father.

Oh, how I love Scott Brick as a narrator. There's nothing more I can say, really. His pace, tone, and expression capture nonfiction pieces perfectly.

I discovered this book after reading Chernow's "Washington: A Life," and realizing that I was finding myself more and more fascinated by Washington's devoted and talented young protege, Alexander Hamilton. Imagine my delight when I found that Chernow had authored a biography on Hamilton as well.

All of America's founding fathers were brilliant, courageous, enterprising, and thoroughly flawed men. Chernow captures this balance perfectly in writing about both Washington and Hamilton.

Hamilton has become my favorite founder (because yes, as a history nerd, I do have a favorite). He was one of the only truly self-made men of the founders, and as an immigrant and illegitimate child, perfectly embodies what I believe has always been the American dream (however romantic and idealized the notion may be): the ability to come to this land and discover one's own greatness, regardless of one's humble beginnings. There is so much more to Hamilton's story besides his well-known duel with Aaron Burr, and Chernow captures every detail and paints the clearest picture of a man whose legacy lives on in so many parts of our lives today.

Easily The Most Interesting Founder... Easily

Alexander Hamilton seemed a strange and sort of periphery figure in so many stories surrounding the revolution. After listening to McCullough's John Adams and hearing Hamilton constantly mentioned as a behind the scenes foil, or as the brains behind so many plots, I wondered why I didn't know anything about him. I mean, I knew he died in a duel with Aaron Burr, but that's about all.
After 37 plus hours of just the most interesting life imaginable I realized only 5 days had passed. This guy really didn't leave the tri-state area after he came to New York when he was 16 and he still managed to be in the center of nearly every major moment in American History from 1776 to 1800. He became a Captain at 19 and a Lieutenant Colonel by 21, he was a key figure in convincing the New York public to go to war while he was still in college. Without him, there is a very good chance the constitution wouldn't have been ratified and, without his financial system, our debt would've probably crushed our little country before it even got going. I thought George Washington was the first President, turns out Hamilton pretty much ran things. Then, the guy dies in a duel with the Vice President! This was 37 hours well spent, I'll have to come back to this next year when my heart stops beating so damn fast.

Lewis in Arizona

Alexander Hamilton is an incredible book. I listened to this book right after listening to the John Adams Biography and my thoughts about Hamilton were quickly reversed. My respect for Hamilton is enormous. I never thought that one man could do so many things for the benefit of our country even at times acting against the popular opinion of the times. Ron Chernow did a masterful job in writing this biography. I would highly recommend this book to all who want to learn who Hamilton really was, the good and the bad. This book will leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was a remarkable human being. He overcame enormous obstacles. America was blessed to have such a brilliant human being at beginning of this country. His relationship to George Washington was so good that made me listen to George Washington by Chernoff. This book should be in everyone's library.

best of patriots - best of stories

? was alexander hamilton (AH) just some old guy on the 10 dollar bill
? was he really a leading patriot or some minor footnote to geo. washington
? why wasn't he included in the very foremost of our nations' founders

ron chernow has written a really terrific book to introduce us to AH
lin-manuel miranda was inspired by the book to write a "hip-hop" play
both the book and the broadway play are enjoying well deserved notoriety

AH's life story has an engaging, authentic ring for modern audiences
illegitimacy - adultery - foreign birth - urban life - are all major issues
chernow has a way of making AH seem relevant, noble and human

as you'd expect in a long political career, AH had some real enemies
sadly for AH, 4 of his most prominent enemies later became president
th.jefferson & j. adams & j.madison & j.monroe then outlived AH by decades

america's strengths in law, trade, defense and banking can all be traced to AH
he had an almost clairvoyant vision of the future needs of our young nation
together, chernow's book and miranda's play may see to it, that AH gets his due

Fascinating Founding Father

I have to admit, I listened to the book due to the musical. I love history, but mistakingly thought biographies of the founding fathers would be boring. I. was. wrong. Hamilton's story is truly the American Dream.

Perfect Biography, Entertainment and Learning

Alexander Hamilton, By Ron Chernow, and Narrated By Scott Brick. This is a complete journey through the life of and times of Alexander Hamilton. Stupendous times at that; the American Revolutionary War and the nation's twenty year formation thereafter. This book is at least two things at once. The greatest biography ever written and a page turner (or continuous listen since we are talking about an audible.com book). Three dozen hours of listening and one feels like you could have had more. Please just a little more. When we think essential forefather we think, Jefferson, Washington and Adams. Now I know that those monuments were valuable but not the most valuable. Our Republic is here because Alexander Hamilton was there.

Dozens and dozens of little stories of Hamilton’s birth and upbringing, his coming to the continental colonies, his setbacks, and successes including stories of the smarter he demonstrated himself to be the more the people distrusted him. It was serendipity that brought him into the center of the American Revolution, but it was George Washington’s realization that in Hamilton he had an accomplished person and eventually a nation creator. Washington had the virtues but not the talent, Hamilton had the talent. That is not to say Hamilton was without virtue that would not be accurate. Yet, if you want a story of men with little virtue, that is supplied here in the name of Aaron Burr. If you really wants to learn of lack of virtue, read/listen and pay attention when Thomas Jefferson’s name is mentioned. Yes, he really told it to the British in the Declaration of Independence. But by telling Hamilton’s story and gifts to the American union, Chernow, makes one believe that for Jefferson, it was all just words to espouse. Jefferson only cared about what he wanted notwithstanding the ultimate truth and other human emotions involved.

Okay, so we have Jefferson, the father of the Declaration and James Madison, the father of the Constitution. Pretty impressive political theoreticians. Then we have the nascent nation after the Revolutionary War, with its failed currency, mounting and unpayable debt, of the confederacy as well as most of the states, no trading markets, no international credit and no one to guide the nation financially. Well no one until the job was handed to Alexander Hamilton. Whoosh, all fixed. Bonds were issued, markets were established, taxes to pay debt were raised and the nation became prosperous; over the vehement opposition of Jefferson and Madison. By the end of this story one realizes Jefferson and Madison were outright ignorant as to finance.

This is also the best survey ever written describing the content of the Federalist Papers. The read would be worthwhile just to participate in the review.

There are more and more of these wonderful stories, about Alexander Hamilton, and his love of his wife and children, his magic relationship with his in-laws, his legal practice, his out of marriage love affair, his oldest son’s dyeing from a gun duel in almost the precise manner Hamilton himself would die two years later – both based on Hamilton’s spurious theory on how best to duel. Story after story after story just a great read, and one well read as well. BRAVO!

makes driving more pleasant

enjoyed on drive from mn to az and back. long but fascinating. loved use of language.