I am not a person who typically chooses to read non fiction in my free time, so it is a bit odd that I am working my way through an 832 page biography of a founding father. However, I came to Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton the same way pretty much everyone has these days: a devotion to Hamilton the Musical.
Several months ago (a bit late to the game) I heard about Hamilton. Sold out until next year. President Obama had gone to see it. Twice! Mo Willems (author of the Pigeon books for children) drew a response to it.
Everywhere I turned I kept hearing about this amazing work, so I ordered the soundtrack through interlibrary loan (Yay for reciprocal borrowing!) to see what all the
fuss was about. (I later ended up buying it so that I could both own it and vote with my dollars)
fuss was about. (I later ended up buying it so that I could both own it and vote with my dollars)
And I was blown away. (no pun intended)
The story of the life of Alexander Hamilton from orphaned immigrant to founding father to "that guy who got killed in a duel with Aaron Burr", the musical is so much more.
It is brilliantly written. Allusions to literature, music across genres (with a heavy emphasis on rap and hip-hop), motifs that thread through the work in such subtle ways that a listener rarely notices the puns, double meanings, hints, and foreshadowing. It is simply an intelligent masterpiece.
It is brilliantly written. Allusions to literature, music across genres (with a heavy emphasis on rap and hip-hop), motifs that thread through the work in such subtle ways that a listener rarely notices the puns, double meanings, hints, and foreshadowing. It is simply an intelligent masterpiece.
So I began reading about the musical which took two paths.
First, I started in on the work that inspired the musical: Ron Chernow's biography Alexander Hamilton. It is a long book, filled with rich detail, vivid descriptions, and more information about the founding of America than most people could imagine. I now know more about the XYZ affair, the founding of the US Treasury, Washington's administration, the Adams administration, and the Hamiltonian vs Jeffersonian conflict than I ever thought possible. And for a fiction aficionado, it can be a bit heavy
at times. I alternated the book with the musical, trying not to listen to any point past where I had read. The second half of the musical begins with Jefferson's return from France to become Secretary of State, so I had a long time to enjoy disc 1.
As I plowed through the book I began wondering about the writer of the musical, which took me down my second path: finding out all I could about Lin-Manuel Miranda, the librettist of the musical. And what a man to know about! He had been an English teacher, but always with a heart for music, literature, and performing. The entire Hamilton musical was born from a single song he wrote after reading Chernow's book. Miranda talks about the beauty of Hamilton's life being that he was a self-made man, built on the strength of his skill with words. This clip (which has a salty word or two, just FYI) is that first performance of what would become the opening song to Hamilton.
Then the stories of the cast. Anthony Ramos, who plays but John Laurens and Phillip Hamilton, auditioned for what he thought was a talent show and didn't even know it was for Broadway. What a great story, right?
How about Okieriete Onaodowan who had played football in high school, was sidelined with an injury, and ended up as a stagehand where he realized he loved acting. How amazing!
Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson) before Hamilton had graduated from Brown but was living off unemployment and sleeping in the subway. Amazing!
Hamilton was a self educated man, both brilliant and prolific with words.
Chernow's work is breathtaking in its scope and powerful in its message.
Miranda was inspired by it to write one song that grew into one musical that has taken Broadway by storm, won a Grammy, and will likely be showered with Tony awards. He then was asked to write the music for the cantina scene in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and is working on the songs for Moana, the next Disney movie.
Plus, how can you not love anything that contains the line "We rendezvous with Rochambeau, consolidate their gifts"?
Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go stand in line for tickets, since Hamilton will be in Chicago in September.
