The duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr was the deadly climax from a lifetime of competition. They were in many ways opposite as Hamilton was born into poverty in the Caribbean while Burr was from an established colonial family, but it was their shared ambition that led them to opposite sides in politics. War of Two: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and The Duel that Stunned the Nation by John Sedgwick tells their story in the midst of the chaos of war and a new emerging nation.

Sedgewick has created a detailed account of Hamilton’s and Burr’s lives with surprising insights into their character and motivations like Hamilton’s view on marriage and Burr’s very feminist stance. Hamilton and Burr’s history is intertwined with this country and the political maneuvering that formed the nation, and this narrative includes the squabbles and egos with unsentimental portrayals of prominent figures like George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson. Sedgwick has created an intriguing addition to the books about this fascinating time and the men who were behind the creation of a nation.

Christina Callison

Christina Callison has been blogging about books for the library’s website since 2006. She has read hundreds of books that include mysteries, fantasies, horror, thrillers, non-fiction, general fiction, and some science fiction. She continues with her goal of finding new books and authors to recommend.