Comments on: Happy birthday to my dead boyfriend – Alexander Hamilton

By: Keith Johnson

Keith Johnson — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 03:32:47 +0000

Reminds me of my personal affinity for Mr. Hamilton in my teen years. I admired the man greatly, and eventually began identifying with him. My girlfriend at the time and I did some role playing, as husband and wife, Alex and Betsy. Because of my physical resemblance to a young Hamilton, I began portraying him at costume parties, which actually freaked some people out, even though other people were also dressed up. I guess I was simply too much into character and mannerisms, even to the point of mimicking Hamilton’s fine tenor voice. One slightly intoxicated young lady at a party began telling me, “You’re HIM! You’re pretending to be just in costume, but you’re the real thing, here observing us!” She then broke down crying, and friends of hers rushed over to her as she collapsed onto a chair, and began asking her what was wrong. That’s when I ceased my portrayals of Alexander Hamilton, back when I was 18 years of age.

By: dorkafork

dorkafork — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:18:36 +0000

Hamilton was also quite brilliantly portrayed by Michael Cera of Superbad and Arrested Development fame.

By: red

red — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:46:08 +0000

ChrisN – Yes, the Chernow book is something else, isn’t it?

Any book written on Hamilton from now on is going to have to contend with Chernow’s. It feels definitive to me. Like McCullough’s on John Adams. I mean … what is definitive to one generation is obviously up for grabs in the next … but speaking as a woman in the early 21st century, Chernow’s book is an unbelievable accomplishment. I’d been into Hamilton before it came out – Willard Sterne Randall wrote a book on Hamilton – which I had read, much shorter – and most of the stuff I learned about Hamilton was from what other people said about him.

So to have him be the “star”, so to speak, of a massive book – was really awesome for me.

By: red

red — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:42:45 +0000

hahahahahahaha I love how you and I, the females, are already planning it out to assuage our dead boyfriends’ huge and touchy egos. “I know, George, I know …. you’re better than Alexander … no worries …” “It’s okay, Alexander … did you notice he was late? You’re better than George, dude … no worries.”

It will work perfectly.

By: Sharon Ferguson

Sharon Ferguson — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:43:54 +0000

Sheila – I am SO there…although can you imagine the evening if someone is late? Maybe I can arrange for DBGW (Dead Boyfriend George Washington) to be just a WEENSIE bit late himself…say 30 seconds past the hour? Then DBAH can gloat all evening…

By: SFP

SFP — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:14:34 +0000

Thanks for this. I’ll be sharing your link with my friend Wendy, who fell in love with Hamilton (same as I did) after reading Chernow’s bio.

By: ChrisN

ChrisN — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:11:29 +0000

Outstanding post. Chernow’s book was undoubtedly the best I read last year. And I can honestly say that in my line of work, Hamilton’s initiatives in the early days of the Republic have an enormous impact on me every day.

By: red

red — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:48:28 +0000

Ohhh, croupy!! Hope he feels better! I’m sure the ipecac is doing the trick.

I’m kind of obsessed with Hamilton (obviously) – so I keep all of these quotes I like from him in its own notebook – so I have an easy way to track down the ones I like, or whatever.

A lot of this is cut and paste from other posts too – so I didn’t put all of this together on the spot!!

Glad you liked!

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:45:54 +0000

Wow. This was completely fascinating. Got to read the whole ding-dong thing because croupy is having a nap.

HOW the F do you do all this, Sheila? Your brains and zest for what interests you totally blow me away.

By: red

red — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:34:33 +0000

Ken – I’m crying with laughter.

Ahhh, the whole text-messaging founding fathers skit. It NEVER gets old.