Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, A Master Passion

by Juliet Waldron

Overview

A Master Passion is the story of our brilliant first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and his wife, Betsy Schuyler.

It begins with their Revolutionary War courtship. Although born poor and illegitimate, as an Aide de Camp to General George Washington, Hamilton dares to reach, boldly pursuing Betsy, daughter of a wealthy and prominent New York family.

After the war, Hamilton engages in nation building. Like all mission-driven men, he is preoccupied, often absent, and not the best provider. The trials of making ends meet and raising their ever-growing troop of children falls to Betsy, who accomplishes her task with grace and devotion.

Conflict is built into their marriage. It does not simply spring from Alexander's agonizing childhood experience of bastardy, abuse, and abandonment. To quote Alexander Pope, Hamilton's favorite poet:

"And hence one Master Passion in the breast like Aaron's serpent, swallows up all the rest..."

Betsy's passion is Alexander. Alexander's passion is America.

Though Hamilton's financial acumen and political courage is crucial to the formation and survival of our nation, his star sets quickly. Disillusioned, political power broken, his adored eldest son killed in a duel, Hamilton goes to his own famous duel with Aaron Burr in the spirit of those noble Romans he so steadfastly admires, preferring death to dishonor.

The Master Passion places the battles of Alexander Hamilton, the lonely idealist, within a family saga rich in period detail. The great edifice for which he laid the groundwork -- America -- has become, exactly as he planned, the richest and freest country on earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780228605386
Publisher:	BWL Publishing Inc.
Publication date:	09/13/2018
Pages:	498
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.11(d)

About the Author

Juliet Waldron has lived in many US states, in the UK and the West Indies. She earned a B. A. in English, but has worked at jobs ranging from artist’s model to brokerage. Thirty years ago, after her sons left home, she dropped out of 9-5 and began to write, hoping to create a genuine time travel experience for her readers. She’s a grandmother, a cat lady, and a dedicated reader of history and herstory. She enjoys music, from classical to all modern forms. Juliet spends a lot of her time visiting other centuries, but she’s also quite certain she doesn’t want to live in any of them. On warm afternoons she and her husband of fifty years explore the winding back roads of PA on his Hayabusa.

Editorial Reviews

Very much enjoyed this interesting and humanizing treatment of the time and the people. AH was so gifted; his early death a tragic waste. His wife, Elizabeth, was an incredibly strong and accomplished woman. It would be interesting to learn how their children fared, whether they lived up to the high standards of their parents.

Goodreads - Robbie Reader

In my opinion, Juliet Waldron's name is right up there with the greatest authors of all time. Every page is perfect in detail, emotion, description and character depiction. Reading this book, I experienced the emotions that Alexander and Betsy lived, through Waldron's enormous skill for accurately setting the images of the times, the political scene, and people involved. The most personal details were included to just the right degree, so that I felt intimately close to the great people

Goodreads - Eleanor Lawrie