Jefferson and Hamilton: The Rivalry That Forged a Nation - John Ferling
Jefferson and Hamilton: The Rivalry That Forged a Nation - John Ferling
Non-Fiction
Pages: 464
Ferling admits in the introduction to this book that he came to write it holding Jefferson in much greater esteem than Hamilton - and it shows. He also claims he came to admire Hamilton and see much that was noble, praiseworthy and laudable in his character - reading this book you won't find much trace of the man who could inspire such words. I found this an incredibly one-sided recounting of the years of the Revolution and the early Republic; Ferling consistently highlights every bad aspect of Hamilton's character, every misjudged action, every petty or mean emotion, whilst equally consistently excusing or apologising for Jefferson.
A dual biography is always an interesting approach, but I found that this book contributed little new to the fields of study of either Jefferson or Hamilton, or the Revolution, the Constitution, Washington or the early Republic, for that matter. Until their paths crossed in Washington's cabinet, Hamilton and Jefferson scarcely even met, so the first half of this book is spent in tracing their parallel but entirely separate careers. And quite frankly if you want to read about either of those you'd be better off with Ron Chernow's masterful Alexander Hamilton and Jon Meacham or Joseph Ellis' books on Jefferson.
Ferling's anti-Hamilton animus even goes so far as to whitewash much of Aaron Burr's character. Reading this book you'd believe him to be in eminently sensible, level-headed, tolerant and accommodating fellow - not at all the scheming, manipulative politico interested solely in his own advancement, a man who was seen practising his aim for weeks before the duel and never expressed any regret in killing Alexander Hamilton, and who was later tried for treason by Jefferson for his plans to detach the western territories from the United States and set up his own independent country.
So all in all, I found this book immensely disappointing. I'll admit, I'm more of a Hamilton than Jefferson partisan, and this has contributed to my disappointment, but I only came to be so through reading biographies far more detailed, balanced and insightful than this.
Non-Fiction
Pages: 464
Ferling admits in the introduction to this book that he came to write it holding Jefferson in much greater esteem than Hamilton - and it shows. He also claims he came to admire Hamilton and see much that was noble, praiseworthy and laudable in his character - reading this book you won't find much trace of the man who could inspire such words. I found this an incredibly one-sided recounting of the years of the Revolution and the early Republic; Ferling consistently highlights every bad aspect of Hamilton's character, every misjudged action, every petty or mean emotion, whilst equally consistently excusing or apologising for Jefferson.
A dual biography is always an interesting approach, but I found that this book contributed little new to the fields of study of either Jefferson or Hamilton, or the Revolution, the Constitution, Washington or the early Republic, for that matter. Until their paths crossed in Washington's cabinet, Hamilton and Jefferson scarcely even met, so the first half of this book is spent in tracing their parallel but entirely separate careers. And quite frankly if you want to read about either of those you'd be better off with Ron Chernow's masterful Alexander Hamilton and Jon Meacham or Joseph Ellis' books on Jefferson.
Ferling's anti-Hamilton animus even goes so far as to whitewash much of Aaron Burr's character. Reading this book you'd believe him to be in eminently sensible, level-headed, tolerant and accommodating fellow - not at all the scheming, manipulative politico interested solely in his own advancement, a man who was seen practising his aim for weeks before the duel and never expressed any regret in killing Alexander Hamilton, and who was later tried for treason by Jefferson for his plans to detach the western territories from the United States and set up his own independent country.
So all in all, I found this book immensely disappointing. I'll admit, I'm more of a Hamilton than Jefferson partisan, and this has contributed to my disappointment, but I only came to be so through reading biographies far more detailed, balanced and insightful than this.