A Letter from Susan Holloway Scott
Dear Friends,
Many thanks for your interest in my new historical novel, I, Eliza Hamilton.
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (1757-1854) was the wife of Alexander Hamilton (c1755-1804), a Revolutionary War hero, statesman, politician, and abolitionist, the first Secretary of the Treasury, a signer and promoter of the Constitution, the founder of the American financial system, and, perhaps most famously for posterity, the only Founding Father killed in a duel.
You might also have heard that he inspired a certain Broadway musical that carries his name.
Like so many women of the past, Eliza’s story has been overshadowed by her brilliant husband. She didn’t help her place in posterity by destroying (or asking her son to destroy) most of her own letters and virtually eliminating her voice. As a result, she’s too often been dismissed by historians, who variously describe her as shy and reclusive, a homebody, or a saint.
But the real Eliza’s still there: in the letters of others who knew her, in diaries, in portraits, in memoirs, and most of all, in the achingly beautiful love letters her husband wrote to her over the years of their courtship and marriage. She was a mother, daughter, sister, and wife. She was intelligent and resourceful and strong, a woman who lived in the thick of some of the most turbulent and exciting times in American history. Her marriage was filled with love and passion, regard and devotion, but also marred by public scandal and unimaginable tragedies that broke her heart, but not her spirit. I’m honored to tell her story.
I hope you’ll enjoy this extra content about Eliza, her life, family, and times. Over the next months, I’ll be sharing more about her, as well as discoveries from my research junkets, on my history-related blog here and my web site blog here, my Facebook page, and my Instagram account. You can also read a bit more about the book here in a recent post on Bustle.com.
Thank you
Susan Holloway Scott
Download the I, Eliza Hamilton Book Club Kit here.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In this beautifully written novel of historical fiction, bestselling author Susan Holloway Scott tells the story of Alexander Hamilton’s wife, Eliza—a fascinating, strong-willed heroine in her own right and a key figure in one of the most gripping periods in American history.
“Love is not easy with a man chosen by Fate for greatness . . .”
As the daughter of a respected general, Elizabeth Schuyler is accustomed to socializing with dignitaries and soldiers. But no visitor to her parents’ home has affected her so strongly as Alexander Hamilton, a charismatic, ambitious aide to George Washington. They marry quickly, and despite the tumult of the American Revolution, Eliza is confident in her brilliant husband and in her role as his helpmate. But it is in the aftermath of war, as Hamilton becomes one of the country’s most important figures, that she truly comes into her own.
In the new capital, Eliza becomes an adored member of society, respected for her fierce devotion to Hamilton as well as her grace. Behind closed doors, she astutely manages their expanding household, and assists her husband with his political writings. Yet some challenges are impossible to prepare for. Through public scandal, betrayal, personal heartbreak, and tragedy, she is tested again and again. In the end, it will be Eliza’s indomitable strength that makes her not only Hamilton’s most crucial ally in life, but his most loyal advocate after his death, determined to preserve his legacy while pursuing her own extraordinary path through the nation they helped shape together.
Uncover the Truth With These New Mystery Series