Book Report on Alexander Hamilton by Richard Brookhiser

In this short, but adequate biography, Brookhiser demonstrates the remarkable extent to which Hamilton was responsible for the creation and formation of the American nation, both through the force of his ideas and, at the vital moment, upon the United States financial house in order.

Hamilton was one of the landmark figures of the revolutionary period? He worked with Madison on the Federalist papers, served as Secretary of the Treasury under Washington, and along with Jefferson, is largely responsible for the modern two-party system? But he is also one of the most contentious. John Adams called Hamilton "a bastard" and "alien" (both of the charges carried a degree of truth), Jefferson thought that he was secretly "against the freedom in the country", the prosecution Brookhiser refutation. Death of Hamilton, only increased his infamy, he fell in a duel with then-Vice President Aaron Burr, an event that remains one of the most bizarre in American history (Brookhiser, 252).

What a beautiful book! "Alexander Hamilton, American" manages to pack quite a bit in 256 pages: history of Hamilton, a plausible version of his nature and personality, and a survey of collision of titans of the Revolutionary War generation. Richard Brookhiser does all this perfectly in this short, it is reading a book.

Brookhiser not interested in all the little things in life Hamilton and time. He is not interested in the reproduction of works of Hamilton, Hamilton, letters, or articles about Hamilton. He is interested in telling a story and then make a point about the role of speech, human rights, and passion in the character of Hamilton.

In this subtle, but rewarding book, Brookhiser traces the entire course of professional and personal life of Hamilton. Although he did not shy away from the more unpleasant episodes, ...