Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr is the narrator for most of the musical in which he makes a sympathetic villain and delightful foil. But Burr posed a special challenge for us in writing My Dear Hamilton.
Eliza definitely knew him and his wife, Theodosia. They were, as described by a contemporary, in and out of each other’s houses during those early years. Burr studied in Eliza’s father’s law library at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, and socialized with the Hamiltons frequently when they all lived in New York City. But once the rivalry between the two men escalated, Eliza saw less and less of Burr. Though Alexander continued to have occasion to interact with and correspond with Burr, Eliza had far less reason.
In My Dear Hamilton, we were telling her story, so Burr was rarely central to it, even though his actions would change the whole course of her life one fateful day at Weehawken.
Another Fifty Years
In the last song of the musical, Eliza briefly but emotionally summarizes some of her accomplishments during the fifty years after her husband’s death.
From the beginning, we wanted to tell Eliza’s whole story. Just as Eliza was someone before she met Alexander, she was also someone after he died, and she was a widow for far longer than she was a wife. Indeed, this was one way we wanted My Dear Hamilton to stand out. The source material for Eliza’s later years is scarce, scattered, and therefore time-consuming to track down. But once we did that work, we found that there was so much that we couldn’t begin to include it all. Thankfully, it did give us the opportunity to tell Eliza’s story as it’s never been told before!
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Praise for Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie’s My Dear Hamilton
“My Dear Hamilton is a superbly written, meticulously researched homage to the birth of America as seen from the eyes of a woman who helped bring it to life. Eliza Schuyler Hamilton is much more than a Founding Father’s wife; she’s a passionate patriot who finds the strength to steer her tempestuous husband away from his own worst instincts even when he betrays her. At once a wartime drama, a woman’s coming-of-age, and a lesson on politics that resonates in today’s world, My Dear Hamilton is the book of the year.”
—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
“Not since I read Erik Larson’s Dead Wake have I had such an edge-of-my-seat immersion into historical events. Eliza Hamilton is a remarkable heroine, depicted here with gorgeous prose and heart-tugging realism. No study of Alexander Hamilton would be complete without reading this book and learning the true source of the great man’s strength—his wife. Full of history, engaging characters who shimmer on each page, and a tremendous love story, this is a book for everyone.”
—Karen White, New York Times bestselling author
“Following their stunning success in America’s First Daughter, Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie have penned an unforgettable story of the woman behind Hamilton. Combining treachery, lies, and the fate of those present at the birth of a nation, My Dear Hamilton is a masterpiece that is both intimate in detail and epic in scope—a triumph!”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale
“My Dear Hamilton is a fascinating work of historical fiction, beautifully crafted and richly detailed. If you think you already know Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, her role in the founding of our country, her marriage, and her heartbreak, you’ll marvel at the woman you meet in this compelling novel.”
—Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker and Enchantress of Numbers
“From the first pages of My Dear Hamilton, the words ‘In the secret seethings of my discontented heart,’ I was pulled in and swept away by this epic tale. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, this stunning novel captures the courage, strength, and kindness of the remarkable woman behind Alexander Hamilton. A fascinating read!”
—Ellen Marie Wiseman, internationally bestselling author of The Life She Was Given
“Did you ever want your own private window on the past? Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie provide an intimate look into the life of one of our most intriguing Founding Fathers, as well as a front-row view of the ups and downs of the early days of the Republic. If you’ve ever wanted to banter with Hamilton or share a dish of tea with the Marquis de Lafayette, open the covers of My Dear Hamilton and step right into Eliza Hamilton’s parlor. . . . The gang’s all there!”