From the New York Times bestselling author of Irena’s Children comes a “vivid, compelling, and unputdownable…biography” (Christopher Andersen, #1 New York Times bestselling author) about the extraordinary life and times of Eliza Hamilton—trailblazing philanthropist, devoted wife of founding father Alexander Hamilton, and a powerful, unsung hero in America’s founding story. Fans of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical Hamilton may know Eliza Hamilton only as the loyal partner of the nation’s founding father, but this biography reveals her full, dynamic story. Born into the elite Schuyler family in New York, Eliza Schuyler carved a path as a caring sister, devoted mother, and later a daring pioneer in philanthropy and legacy-building. This expertly told historical biography follows her early years, the ups and downs of her married life with Alexander Hamilton—including the scandal and his tragic death—and then her courageous decades of preserving his legacy and launching one of New York’s first orphan asylums. Through a deeply researched narrative and vivid portraiture, discover a story that cemented her legacy as one of the unsung heroes of our nation’s early days. Perfect for fans of Ron Chernow’s sweeping biographies, the Hamilton musical audience, or anyone passionate about women in the early United States, this book brings to life the woman behind the myth and honors her philanthropic achievements in the founding era. “In Tilar J. Mazeo's vivid, compelling, and unputdownable new biography, Eliza Hamilton finally takes her place in the pantheon of remarkable American women who, no less than the men they loved, built this nation.” -- ―Christopher Andersen, #1 New York Times bestselling author "Tilar Mazzeo brings Eliza Hamilton to life in this first ever comprehensive biography of a woman who is known solely for the man she married but whose courage and generosity are revealed here. Fast-paced and reads like a novel." -- ―Kate Andersen Brower, New York Times bestselling author of First Women “Tilar Mazzeo has made me fall in love with the enchanting, but refreshingly real Eliza Hamilton. An important portrait of a woman as intriguingly complicated and now as deservedly memorable as her husband.” -- ―Stacy Horn, author of Dalmatian Island “Drawing from an impressive breadth of sources… this is an expertly told story that’s certain to captivate Hamilton fans and intrigue anyone interested in early U.S. history.” -- ―Publishers Weekly "Mazzeo's Eliza appears stoic, loyal, and canny." -- ―Kirkus "Tilar Mazzeo has given us the profound gift of getting to know more fully the extraordinary woman whose legacy we are honored to carry forward today. Eliza Hamilton inspires!" -- ―Jess Dannhauser, president and CEO of Graham Windham Tilar J. Mazzeo is the New York Times and San Francisco Chronicle bestselling author of books that include The Widow Clicquot, The Secret of Chanel No. 5, and Hotel on the Place Vendôme. She also writes on food and wine for the mainstream press, and her work has appeared in venues such as Food & Wine and in her Back-Lane Wineries guidebook series (Ten Speed Press). Her course on creative nonfiction (Great Courses), featured as in-flight viewing content on Virgin America airlines, is widely distributed and has made her a nationally prominent teacher of writing in nonfiction genres. The Clara C. Piper Associate Professor of English at Colby College, she divides her time among coastal Maine, New York City, and Saanichton, British Columbia, where she lives with her husband and stepchildren.