Alexander Hamilton: The Man and the Myth

Research output: Non-textual formWebinar

Abstract

Alexander Hamilton: The Man and the Myth

(May 14, 2024) Session 1: The Room Where It Happened: Hamilton’s Life and History

(May 21, 2024) Session 2: Behind the Scenes: Hamilton in Fact and Fiction

Ever since Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton hit the shelves in 2004, the story of this inspiring American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father has captivated our imaginations, and for good reason. As anyone who has seen the blockbuster Broadway production Hamiltoncan tell you, the life and work of this singular American has something inspiring to teach us all.

In this two-part course, you will demystify the history of Alexander Hamilton and compare and contrast the story depicted in the musical with the historical context of Hamilton’s life and politics. You’ll consider the role that creative limits and choices play when adapting a book, or an entire life, to the stage, and conduct a fun fact-checking of the musical while looking at the backstory for some of the show’s main scenes.

You’ll also learn more about Alexander Hamilton’s upbringing and his extraordinary life in politics, covering the “room where it happened” dinner deal that shaped the fledgling nation, his role in creating America’s financial system, and his contribution to drafting the Constitution.

Your expert guide will be Robert Watson, an award-winning author, professor, and historian who has published over forty books on history and politics. He is a Professor at Lynn University in Florida, and serves as the series editor for the long-running scholarly book anthology on the American presidency published by the State University of New York, and as the editor of the popular multi-volume encyclopedia sets The American Presidents and American First Ladies.

Original languageAmerican English
Media of outputOnline
StatePublished - May 2024
EventAlexander Hamilton: The Man and the Myth - Roundtable by The 92nd Street Y, New York, United States
Duration: May 14 2024May 21 2024
https://roundtable.org/live-courses/history/hamilton-myth-man-musical

Bibliographical note

Two session live, virtual course given on May 14, 2024 and May 21, 2024.

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