Book Review: My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

I have to admit to being a big Hamilfan (a huge fan of the musical Hamilton.) Lin-Manuel Miranda’s creative genius brings a period of American history to life and while knew very little about the American Revolution prior to watching Hamilton, I found myself wanting to know more about these pivotal figures.

Whilst being almost a secondary character in the musical, it was Eliza Hamilton’s strength, determination and dignity that really stood out to me and I was eager to learn more about Alexander Hamilton’s ‘forgiving wife’.

My Dear Hamilton is a historical fiction novel by New York Times bestselling authors Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray, published in 2018. As with the musical, this book is a work of fiction based on historical events. While both the musical and the novel are based on real letters between the main characters, nobody can truly know what goes on behind closed doors.

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Author: Stephanie Dray | Laura Kamoie

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2018

Plot

The novel is written from the viewpoint of Eliza and the opening line, “I was someone before I met Alexander Hamilton”, highlights that this woman was so much more than somebody’s wife. While the novel does give an insight into her marriage to the flawed genius that was Alexander Hamilton, it shows the hardships, family life and accomplishments of this great woman.

The story focuses on Eliza’s life and her own role in the revolution and her interactions not only with her husband but other notable figures such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and James Madison. Her dealings with James Monroe, particularly towards the end of the novel, show the strength of Eliza’s character. It’s interesting to read about these famous men through the eyes of Eliza.

The story starts, as you would imagine, at the beginning. A young Eliza Schuyler, the daughter of a general, tries to find her place in the world before she meets the rakish, ladies’ man, Alexander Hamilton. The story follows throughout their marriage; the battles, the tragedies and the betrayals. The last part of the novel focuses on who Eliza Hamilton was after her husband died. We feel her despair as she searches for answers and devotes herself to charity work.

My Dear Hamilton Book Review

My previous knowledge of 18th century American history is far from vast. However, while reading about battles and wars has never held any appeal to me, the lives of those during the American Revolution and the years that follow fascinate me. I like reading about people. Real people with real experiences. I like to imagine what it would have been like to live during those perilous years and can easily envisage the frustrations of being a woman during that time.

The beauty of My Dear Hamilton is the telling of the events from a female perspective. Not a meek and subservient woman, but a woman who wants and demands change. A woman who challenges not only herself but her husband too.

This novel conveyed to me what the musical Hamilton hinted at… Eliza Hamilton was a woman to be reckoned with. A leader, an inspiration and a voice for change. Despite suffering great personal loss and betrayal, she constantly displayed the strength of character to overcome any adversity. She’s so much more than a “forgiving wife” and her and Alexander’s story is so much more than a love story. It’s a tale of growth, forgiveness, redemption and hope.

The book may leave us with questions, in fact, it raises more than it answers. We will probably never know the answers to these questions as any opinions and theories are based purely on conjecture as the Hamiltons took many of their secrets with them to the grave.

The novel highlights the notion that nobody is perfect. Alexander Hamilton certainly wasn’t but neither was his wife. There’s a focus on redemption and setting things right, in the hope that those who matter the most can learn to forgive.

It’s a novel that has inspired me and will definitely stay with me long after finishing the last page.

What should I read after My Dear Hamilton?

If you enjoyed My Dear Hamilton, I would definitely recommend America’s First Daughter also written by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray. If you’re looking for more books set in the 18th century, I would recommend The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd Robinson and That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn.

Related Book Lists

• The Best Books To Read After Watching Hamilton The Musical