The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs
Publisher: Arcade Publishing
Genre: Adult Historical Fiction
Source: Purchased
Summary
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the American Revolution, and featuring a cast of iconic characters such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Marquis de Lafayette, The Hamilton Affair tells the sweeping, tumultuous, true love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, from tremulous beginning to bittersweet ending—his at a dueling ground on the shores of the Hudson River, hers more than half a century later after a brave, successful life.
Hamilton was a bastard son, raised on the Caribbean island of St. Croix. He went to America to pursue his education. Along the way he became one of the American Revolution’s most dashing—and unlikely—heroes. Adored by Washington, hated by Jefferson, Hamilton was a lightning rod: the most controversial leader of the American Revolution.
She was the well-to-do daughter of one of New York’s most exalted families—feisty, adventurous, and loyal to a fault. When she met Alexander, she fell head over heels. She pursued him despite his illegitimacy, and loved him despite his infidelity. In 1816 (two centuries ago), she shamed Congress into supporting his seven orphaned children. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton started New York’s first orphanage. The only “founding mother” to truly embrace public service, she raised 160 children in addition to her own.
With its flawless writing, brilliantly drawn characters, and epic scope, The Hamilton Affair will take its place among the greatest novels of American history.
Hamilton was a bastard son, raised on the Caribbean island of St. Croix. He went to America to pursue his education. Along the way he became one of the American Revolution’s most dashing—and unlikely—heroes. Adored by Washington, hated by Jefferson, Hamilton was a lightning rod: the most controversial leader of the American Revolution.
She was the well-to-do daughter of one of New York’s most exalted families—feisty, adventurous, and loyal to a fault. When she met Alexander, she fell head over heels. She pursued him despite his illegitimacy, and loved him despite his infidelity. In 1816 (two centuries ago), she shamed Congress into supporting his seven orphaned children. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton started New York’s first orphanage. The only “founding mother” to truly embrace public service, she raised 160 children in addition to her own.
With its flawless writing, brilliantly drawn characters, and epic scope, The Hamilton Affair will take its place among the greatest novels of American history.
(Courtesy of Goodreads)
My Review
If there's one thing you need to know about me is that I tend to have an obsessive personality. So when I discovered Hamilton back in 2016 and fell in love, it's safe to say that I pretty much latched onto anything Hamilton-related. That obsession hasn't really died down in those two years since and I'm actually listening to the Hamilton soundtrack while writing this review. The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs was exactly what I was looking for in a historical fiction based on the life of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. I had read others, but they didn't quite reach my expectations. Cobb's blew me away with her narrative, spanning both Alexander and Eliza's life from when they were young up until their deaths.
Cobbs struck the right balance of staying true to history while injecting her own ideas of the inner thoughts of both main characters in their day to day life. We get to see Cobbs' interpretation of how the couple reacted to the main events of their life. It's clear that this story was very well researched and Cobb's put a lot of effort into staying true to history.
If you are a Hamilton musical fan, you will definitely appreciate how Cobb's hits most of the same major historical events that the musical does. I found myself humming to certain songs while reading the corresponding chapters. However, by no means did I find it derivative. Like I mentioned above, the narrative felt fresh and I thoroughly reading their stories through a new voice.
I highly recommend this book, regardless of your level of obsession of the Hamilton musical. But if you are a fan, you will definitely enjoy this thoroughly! And don't let the somewhat romance-oriented cover and title fool you. Historical fiction fans will also enjoy this as I think Cobbs did a wonderful job of setting the backdrop of early America and the historical events that drove the narrative of Alexander and Eliza's life story. Reading this has inspired me to read more of Elizabeth Cobbs work and books about real historical figures in general.
Cobbs struck the right balance of staying true to history while injecting her own ideas of the inner thoughts of both main characters in their day to day life. We get to see Cobbs' interpretation of how the couple reacted to the main events of their life. It's clear that this story was very well researched and Cobb's put a lot of effort into staying true to history.
If you are a Hamilton musical fan, you will definitely appreciate how Cobb's hits most of the same major historical events that the musical does. I found myself humming to certain songs while reading the corresponding chapters. However, by no means did I find it derivative. Like I mentioned above, the narrative felt fresh and I thoroughly reading their stories through a new voice.
I highly recommend this book, regardless of your level of obsession of the Hamilton musical. But if you are a fan, you will definitely enjoy this thoroughly! And don't let the somewhat romance-oriented cover and title fool you. Historical fiction fans will also enjoy this as I think Cobbs did a wonderful job of setting the backdrop of early America and the historical events that drove the narrative of Alexander and Eliza's life story. Reading this has inspired me to read more of Elizabeth Cobbs work and books about real historical figures in general.
Happy reading!
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