[.ca] Duel: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, And The Future Of ... (ISBN 0465017371)

From Amazon.com:
To judge by many standard histories, the revolutionary founders of the United States came equipped with wings and haloes. They were anything but saintly, however; their behavior, public and private, was often scandalous. One of the most outrageous men of the day was Alexander Hamilton, the Federalist leader and architect of the American banking and judiciary systems, whose amorous exploits and political maneuverings alike were the stuff of legend. Tangled in a succession of failed business ventures and personal intrigues, and convinced that the might of the United States should not be hampered by such inconveniences as checks and balances, Hamilton fell afoul of just about everyone he encountered in his quest for influence and wealth. To his eventual misfortune, one of those he crossed was Thomas Jefferson's vice president, Aaron Burr. Many histories of their tangled relationship personalize their differences, and, to be sure, they disliked each other with splendid fervor. Thomas Fleming's contribution to the often-told tale is to ground the Hamilton-Burr rivalry in the politics of the day--a politics complicated by many contending ideological factions, powerful interest groups, and lobbyists. Writing with vigor and clarity, Fleming points to the clay feet on which Hamilton and Burr marched to their sad destiny, and he crafts an exceptionally interesting portrait of the early Republic. --Gregory McNamee

Not Always Balanced... But Always Entertaining:
Thomas Fleming's "Duel" paints history with broad, vivid, and colorful strokes and gives to the history a certain drama and interaction that makes it an engaging product to the reader. However, the reader should be forewarned that the account given to the times of Hamilton and Burr is not (always) balanced. Fleming's open and articulated biases make it hard for the reader to accept "Duel" as an "objective" piece of history. With that said, there are some real gems to be found in this book. Fleming's account of the genesis and execution of the Sedition Act is incredible. Also of great worth was Fleming's account of Hamilton's libel appeal before New York State's highest court. Until that time, TRUTH could not be asserted as a defense in a libel prosecution. Fleming illuminates this with great detail. Many reviewers find sympathy with Aaron Burr, who has commonly been portrayed as a villain. Fleming does a lot of heavy lifting to rehabilitating Burr's historical character, but Fleming also leaves some of Burr's deceit intact (Burr's dreams of ruling a Western Empire). What I find curious is that many reviewers felt little sympathy for Alexander Hamilton. While it is true that Fleming's account does portray Hamilton as a washed-up Federalist, it is important to note that (generally) ANY Federalist after 1800 was a washed-up Federalist. The Federalist fall after 1800 was sudden and complete. Fleming portrays Hamilton as having many admirable qualities (i.e. intelligence, diligence, a desire to re-invent himself - at least religiously, etc.) The real villainry in Fleming's work is reserved for Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson is the mythical "Founding Father" that takes the hardest (deserved?) fall. All in all, "Duel" is an engaging read and highly recommended - even with its apparent drawbacks.

Intellectually engaging, with flaws:
Parts of this book make calling it a "historical account" an insult to historians. While it does supply ample history that coincides with much of the original source material I've read, the author asks us to accept what the author has concluded about his subjects on faith. Fleming spends an inordinate amount of space for a historian attacking the professed faith of Alexander Hamilton, and fires an inappropriate shot at Washington's as well. Hamilton, you see, cannot be a genuine Christian because he did some bad things, according to Fleming's view of the Christian faith. By that standard, no one can ever truly be a Christian. By my estimation, there are approximately four pages detailing this analysis, which in my opinion, requires too much analysis, judgement, and speculation of Hamilton's thoughts and the requirements of the Christian faith in general to be included in, lack of footnotes notwithstanding, an otherwise excellent and readable historical narrative. Fleming doesn't falsely claim, as Ellis did, that DNA evidence shows that Jefferson IN FACT sired any children with Sally Hemmings, but just pointed out the accusation that was made in Jefferson's day, sans the inconclusive and falsely reported DNA test made amidst the Clinton scandal. One other thing I found disheartening about the book was Fleming's claim that Hamilton wanted to be another Napoleon (certainly Jefferson and the Adams' Family thought he did). There just doesn't seem to be enough evidence presented in 'Duel' to draw that conclusion as conclusively as Fleming does and still call it history. With Burr, on the other hand, Fleming cites plenty of evidence that he wanted to head either a secession or revolution in the Louisiana territory, provided the source material is correct, which isn't all annotated. All in all I do recommend this book for entertainment and a particular point of view. My only fear is that others will read it and consider it a history book, when many parts of it are merely dramatic speculation. Anyone who would represent it honest and plain history is trying to sell something besides a book, and prospective readers should proceed with this in mind.

How little things change...:
Reading about the drama of politics nearly two centuries ago really shows how little things change. Our founding fathers were wonderful men, but men all the same. A captivating and intelligent piece of literature.

Great book on two of American's founding fathers:
A great book on Aaron Burr if you want/need to know more about this Vice President. Tells a sad story about the end of a great American - Alexander Hamilton. Good book to understand what the country was going through at this time of Jefferson.

Fantastic, if you love history and drama:
I would consider this a very balanced account of the backgrounds and lives of Burr and Hamilton. Unlike some historians who are obviously prejudiced against one man or the other, Fleming's style allows the reader to decide. The events leading up to the duel are sobering. Reading the exact words that Burr and Hamilton exchanged in letters that led up to the fateful day, evoke true emotion. You do not need an historian to explain what Burr and Hamilton meant to say in these exchanges - it is there for you to read in black and white and to interpret on your own - it is very powerful. All in all, a great read for those interested in the drama of american history.