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    The Hamilton Affair: A Novel
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    The Hamilton Affair: A Novel
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    The Hamilton Affair: A Novel
    Ebook462 pages8 hours

    The Hamilton Affair: A Novel

    By Elizabeth Cobbs

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    A New York Times Bestseller and one of the best historical fiction books of 2016 and 2017!

    “A juicy answer to Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton…” --Cosmopolitan

    Set against the dramatic backdrop of the American Revolution, and featuring a cast of legendary characters, The Hamilton Affair tells the sweeping, tumultuous, true story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, from passionate and tender beginnings of their romance to his fateful duel on the banks of the Hudson River.

    Hamilton was a bastard and orphan, raised in the Caribbean and desperate for legitimacy, who became one of the American Revolution's most dashing--and improbable--heroes. Admired by George Washington, scorned by Thomas Jefferson, Hamilton was a lightning rod: the most controversial leader of the new nation. Elizabeth was the wealthy, beautiful, adventurous daughter of the respectable Schuyler clan--and a pioneering advocate for women. Together, the unlikely couple braved the dangers of war, the perils of seduction, the anguish of infidelity, and the scourge of partisanship that menaced their family and the country itself.

    With flawless writing, brilliantly drawn characters, and epic scope, The Hamilton Affair tells a story of love forged in revolution and tested by the bitter strife of young America, and will take its place among the greatest novels of American history ever written.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcade Publishing
    Release dateJul 28, 2016
    ISBN9781628727234
    Author

    Elizabeth Cobbs

    An award-winning novelist, historian, and documentary filmmaker, Elizabeth Cobbs is the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestselling novel, The Hamilton Affair, and The Hello Girls: America's First Women Soldiers, which has been made into a musical. Elizabeth earned her Ph.D. in American history at Stanford University. She holds the Melbern Glasscock Chair at Texas A&M University and is a Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. She lives in La Mesa, California.

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    Reviews for The Hamilton Affair

    3.5/5

    79 ratings11 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Great read. Loved this book.I’m not one for regular history books but love a good historical fiction and this one is just that. Didn’t want to put it down.
    • 4/5
      At first, I thought this book was dragging because it constantly flips from Alexander's POV to Eliza's POV. Different locations, different times, so you really have to pay attention! But when they finally met, it began to pick up better. They did seem to have a genuine love for each other until the affair between Alexander and Mrs. Reynolds. It damaged the marriage and took a long time to repair.

      Morals aside, I think Alexander Hamilton made some good contributions to America. A lot of people are quick to credit George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but I think Alexander Hamilton should be remembered for his share as well!

      I feel that Elizabeth Cobb did a good job sharing her knowledge of Alexander Hamilton. I can understand why this book has become rather popular.
    • 3/5
      Historically accurate but too much of a soap opera.
    • 4/5
      I really did like this engrossing, timely novel about Alexander Hamilton. For someone who must claim embarrassing ignorance on the subject it was enlightening. I would not say that THE HAMILTON AFFAIR is the be all -end all of biographies of the man, but i WOULD say it left me a bit more educated for sure. Political as well as personal Cobbs holds the readers interest with her research and imagination. Two of my all-time favorite authors are Michener and Uris, because you learn as you read without really being aware of it. Tho not at the same level of those two, this book brought both authors to mind. " ....brave soldier, firm friend...without him we would have no Constitution, no economy, no government.
    • 5/5
      I’ve always liked Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father who thought a strong central government was key to success and a strong financial basis for a new nation key to growth. I’ve read where he’s been demonized by his fellow patriots for his views. It was a fantastic change to see him humanized in the middle, neither a firm monarchist nor a superhuman figure. His relationship with Elizabeth Schuyler is explored with as adept a skill. I thoroughly enjoyed this look at an often misunderstood man.As mentioned, Hamilton was portrayed fantastically as a three-dimensional man. I loved seeing his journey in growth from a man of uncertain beginnings to a deviser of national finances and industrial growth. Each step in his life from apprentice to warrior to father to Secretary of the Treasury is given equal measure. I liked seeing his insecurities in regards to his origins and what he deserved out of life; he grew from them to become real to me beyond words on a page.I also liked how the author portrayed Elizabeth, though she didn't spend as much time on her. She's made out as a practical, sensible woman looking to make her own way in the world and love in marriage, a thought far removed from the norm of the day. I felt she was a wonderful balance for Alexander's ambition and intelligence.Seeing the American Revolution, early Colonial society, and the early years of a struggling republic also made for intriguing reading. Besides fighting for a common ideal and enemy, so many opinions and plans were involved with the shaping of our country. It's fascinating to contemplate where the nation might have gone if Jefferson and Madison had had their way...The author's done a great job of balancing the intimate of characters and relationship with the broadness of history, war, and politics. I got to know the Hamiltons well enough to make them feel real. I feel this is a worthy read for any lover of the era, the American Revolution and Founding Fathers in particular.
    • 4/5
      With the popularity of the musical, there seems to be an uptick in historical novels written about Alexander Hamilton and his wife Eliza. I really liked how this story started by alternating between Alexander and Eliza during their childhoods and slowly building toward their romance. The second half of the book, where Alexander is at the peak of his influence and committing adultery while Eliza raises babies, is the portion where I struggled to get through. Despite this, the book was pretty good overall and certainly something Hamilton fans will want to read.
    • 4/5
      Author Elizabeth Cobbs covers much ground in this novel about Elizabeth and Alexander Hamilton. We get their back stories as children, how they meet and fall in love, and marry and have children. We learn about the type of people they were, to themselves, to each other, and to the world. Both were people of character, but not perfect. Cobbs clearly illustrates the problems each had and how they coped. Well written, true to history, and yet fleshed out with fiction, these character come alive on the page. You will feel their success and anguish as they strive to create a better life for themselves and for others in a fedgling country. Cobbs does a very credible job in making us see history in perhaps a new light with more personal aspects of their lives.
    • 5/5
      The Hamilton Affair depicts the romance, marriage, and struggles of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, allowing each character to speak in alternating chapters. The title itself refers to the scandalous affair between Alexander and Maria Lewis Reynolds that became the first known national scandal related to infidelity. Elizabeth Schuyler, daughter of a wealthy, prominent New York family falls in love with Alexander Hamilton, a bastard (not a nice term in those days) from the Caribbean who gained social acceptance as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington. The couple married in 1780. Eleven years later, Hamilton became involved with a married woman, Maria Reynolds. In 1797 news of the affair, and blackmail payments became public knowledge. Which only proves how frequently and often history repeats itself.Elizabeth Cobb, who holds a Ph.D. In American history and several prestigious appointments, is a worthy practitioner of historical fiction, but keeps the reader at a distance from her subjects. Nevertheless, The Hamilton Affair is well-researched, well-written, and entertaining.
    • 4/5
      I started this book but lost interest about a third of the way through. I ultimately returned to it and suddenly, I couldn't put it down! Even though I knew how the story was going to end, I enjoyed seeing how the characters interacted and how they came to life. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      If you don’t already know about Alexander Hamilton’s role as a founding father, then not only did you not pay attention in history class, but you’ve been living under a rock these past few years as the musical H✰milton has swept the Tony awards.Cobbs is an historian, who also occasionally writes a work of historical fiction. She started researching this novel, got intrigued by the subject, and was told by her publisher that “No one knows about this guy or wants to read about him … Snooze!” But she was convinced that the story was a good one. Several years into the project, a friend told her, “You have to see the You-Tube video of this guy reading a rap poem about Hamilton at the White House!” (It was Lin Manuel Miranda, and this eventually became the hit musical.) I thought I knew Hamilton’s story, but there were still things in this novel that caught my attention and made me take notice. I was interested and engaged from beginning to end. Cobbs tells the story in alternating perspectives: Alexander and Eliza each get a turn at relating events. In this way we get some insight into each character’s background, guiding principles, joys, sorrows and desires. I really appreciated how strong a character Cobb’s Eliza is. And while Cobbs’ sympathies were clearly with Hamilton, she did not shy away from pointing out his faults, infidelity being perhaps the least of them. Our F2F book group had a spirited discussion, made all the more enjoyable by a Skype visit from the author.
    • 5/5
      I should probably wait until the tears subside to write a review, but then I'll forget. This is a beautiful love story of two inspiring, if imperfect, people. Hamilton's affair with Maria Reynolds burns me up, but his love for Eliza and hers for him are the things that I think everyone aspires to. This book was well written, although there were a few spelling/printing errors that I wish had been caught and corrected before it went to print, and it strengthens my Hamilton obsession.