My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie is a powerful portrait of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton – a woman who was far more than just the wife of a Founding Father. The book follows her through nearly her entire life: from her youth in the influential Schuyler family to her marriage to Alexander Hamilton, and through the many years she lived after his death.

Under the family motto Semper Fidelis (“always faithful”), Eliza truly embodies these words. She is loyal, wise, and supportive – to her family, her friends, and her country. Through her eyes, we witness Alexander Hamilton’s rise and fall, the political and military upheavals of the young nation, and the personal sacrifices that accompany them. Dray and Kamoie masterfully frame these grand historical events within an emotional and deeply human story. Eliza is a wife, sister, and mother – but also a woman with her own mission, driven by firm values and deep patriotism. As she stands beside her husband, she grows alongside the nation itself, finding her own voice in a time when women were rarely heard. Especially striking are the inner conflicts Eliza faces – with her husband, but also within herself: her anger, disappointment, compassion, and strength after his death. The authors allow us to experience the tension and tragedy of this marriage without ever losing sight of Eliza’s dignity and inner resilience. Readers familiar with America’s First Daughter will find here the other side of early American history. Instead of focusing on the Democratic-Republican sympathies surrounding Jefferson, Dray and Kamoie highlight the perspective of the Federalists. Eliza’s relationships with figures like James Monroe and Aaron Burr are portrayed with nuance and emotional depth, adding further richness to the story. Despite its more than 600 pages, the book remains deeply engaging – taking time for the slow unfolding of both political and personal developments, much like life itself. In the end, we are left with the image of a woman who gave her life to those she loved, yet never lost herself in the process. My Dear Hamilton is more than a historical novel – it is a powerful testament to female strength in an era when women were often seen merely as extensions of men. With this work, Dray and Kamoie have created a moving literary monument – for Eliza Hamilton, and for all the women whose voices have too long gone unheard.