Blog Tour: My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie
Published by William Morrow Paperbacks on April 3rd 2018
Pages: 672
Goodreads

From the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter comes the epic story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton—a revolutionary woman who, like her new nation, struggled to define herself in the wake of war, betrayal, and tragedy. Haunting, moving, and beautifully written, Dray and Kamoie used thousands of letters and original sources to tell Eliza’s story as it’s never been told before—not just as the wronged wife at the center of a political sex scandal—but also as a founding mother who shaped an American legacy in her own right.

A general’s daughter…

Coming of age on the perilous frontier of revolutionary New York, Elizabeth Schuyler champions the fight for independence. And when she meets Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s penniless but passionate aide-de-camp, she’s captivated by the young officer’s charisma and brilliance. They fall in love, despite Hamilton’s bastard birth and the uncertainties of war.

A founding father’s wife...

But the union they create—in their marriage and the new nation—is far from perfect. From glittering inaugural balls to bloody street riots, the Hamiltons are at the center of it all—including the political treachery of America’s first sex scandal, which forces Eliza to struggle through heartbreak and betrayal to find forgiveness.

The last surviving light of the Revolution…

When a duel destroys Eliza’s hard-won peace, the grieving widow fights her husband’s enemies to preserve Alexander’s legacy. But long-buried secrets threaten everything Eliza believes about her marriage and her own legacy. Questioning her tireless devotion to the man and country that have broken her heart, she’s left with one last battle—to understand the flawed man she married and imperfect union he could never have created without her…

“In the secret seethings of my discontented heart, I’ve searched for a life that is my own. A life not consumed by the questions he left in his wake—riddles I will never solve about our marriage, our family, and the suffering to which he exposed us. I’ve searched for a meaning to my existence not swallowed up by Hamilton’s shadow. By his genius. By his greatness. By his folly.” 

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton! Prior to reading this book, I was not wrapped up in all of the Hamiltonmania. I have not seen Hamilton on Broadway. I have not listened to a single song on the soundtrack. That has all changed, my friends. I am a believer and it’s all because of this book! I’m stalking Stub Hub and entering the Hamilton lottery on a daily basis. I’m on the verge of spending a ridiculous amount of money on tickets. If the play is as good as this book, it’ll be money well spent. I realize they may be very different stories but My Dear Hamilton has truly kindled in me a desire to learn more about this part of American history. (Or relearn since I’m sure the good people who issued my H.S. diploma did touch upon this period back in the day.)

Before I go on to list everything I loved about this book, I’m just going to put this out there: There was not a single thing I had an issue with. Nothing I can criticize in 637 pages.

This is the third book I’ve read recently that is co-authored. (Is this a new trend or is it a coincidence?) The writing is so beautiful and seamless it’s unbelievable. The authors obviously did a tremendous amount of research in terms of the historical content. But seriously, I was blown away by the gorgeous prose. The voice they gave to Eliza Huntington was one any woman would be proud to have. Like many of the most loved and respected women in history, Eliza was a force. She was intelligent – both emotionally and intellectually. She knew how to finesse situations private and political to further the agenda of the side she felt was in the right. She maintained public composure while under unimaginable duress. She loved her family with a loyalty and ferocity that made her a formidable opponent when threatened or challenged. In short, I loved her.

Sadly, hers was not an easy life in any sense. Women, it seems, were not meant to have lives of their own in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Despite the fact that she influenced the man who influenced so much of Americas past and present, Eliza was, on a day-to-day basis, expected to be the quiet and supportive wife. Though she was proud of her husband’s career and accomplishments, this understandably frustrated her.

Eliza’s relationship with Hamilton was as complicated as Hamilton himself. Though this is Eliza’s story, I really enjoyed getting to know Hamilton through the eyes of the authors.

If you love historical fiction and books with strong female characters, My Dear Hamilton is a must read!

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Stephanie Dray

Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. Before she became a novelist, she was a lawyer and a teacher. Now she lives near the nation’s capital with her husband, cats, and history books.

Find out more about Stephanie at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About Laura Kamoie

Laura Kamoie is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from The College of William and Mary, published two non-fiction books on early America, and most recently held the position of Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy before transitioning to a full-time career writing fiction. Laura lives among the colonial charm of Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband and two daughters.

Find out more about Laura at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks to TLC Book Tour and William Morrow for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.