Burr: A Novel (Narratives of Empire, Book 1)

Margaret Moncrieffe; the First Love of Aaron Burr: A Romance of the Revolution I had to read this riveting, stupendous book twice to fully appreciate the wealth of information on the life of the real Aaron Burr, not the villain that history and our schools have fed us all. It's a thriller and a thoroughly enjoyable read.I would like to share three more fascinating and insightful books on Burr:  Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr  2007;  Jefferson's Vendetta: The Pursuit of Aaron Burr and the Judiciary  2005; Margaret Moncrieffe; the First Love of Aaron Burr: A Romance of the Revolution  first published in 1860. This book has been restored and scanned.Nancy Isenberg and Joseph Wheelan's documentaries are based on the most recent research on Aaron Burr and corroborate and extend most of the ideas in Vidal's book. But the real surprise was a citation by Isenberg of a formerly "lost" book authored by Charles Burdett, one of the real Burr's adoptive sons and whose description almost perfectly fits that of Charlie Schuyler, the main character in BURR. What was so delicious for me in discovering this book is that Gore Vidal says in BURR that Charlie Schuyler is the only fictitious character in his story. But alas, here is the real Charlie, Aaron Burr's real adoptive son. Charles Burdett's book is the actual biography that the fictional Charlie Schuyler was writing in BURR. This book was rediscovered and the original has been meticulously scanned to produce the current book.One criticism I have about Vidal's book, however, is the insinuation that Burr had an incestuous relationship with his daughter Theodosia. Vidal admitted in an interview that he made this up for dramatic effect, but that he based his notion on his research and his own opinion. Isenberg refutes this idea partly, explaining it all more in the light of the Enlightenment's different set of values, as well as the very progressive philosophy Burr and his wife subscribed to in the education of their daughter, who was the best educated woman of that era in America. Because Vidal said it, though, it has rather perpetuated Burr's image as a villain, without being established as fact. This is my only criticism.Gore Vidal's BURR has been a watershed moment in uncovering the smear campaign of Aaron Burr throughout history, begun by Jefferson and Hamilton because they felt so threatened by Burr. He is truly our lost - and most interesting- founding father, and the major reason the Supreme Court's balance of power was preserved amid Jefferson's assaults on the Constitution.

I liked Gore Vocals treatment of Aaron Burr through his diaries and through Charlie Scchulyer. Burr talked place in the last years of Aaron Burr 1833- 1840. Burr dies in 1838. Burr is married in the beginning tying to get fund to settle Texas. This is a good historical novel with vivid scenery and the fact that Martin Van Burden maybe his illegitimate son. We see Jefferson, Washington and Hamilton through the eyes of Aaron Burr. We meet his some Aaron Columbus Burr. We meet his biographer. Matt Davis and Legett and hos defender. I like the part where Burr compares Jeeferson, Marshall and Randomly as mad, eccentric and crazy. This is history told from a different lens and how Burr was a founding father and competition between men can shape a country. Burr was from New York and Jefferson was from Virginia, the Virginia junto. It is about the secrecy and plotting that God behind the scenes and the resilience of being right and good friends. Burr is a quiet and reserved man and Vital does a good job of telling his stoty. It is a honest portrayal. He calls Thomas Jefferson'Massa Tom'. It is an interesting read. All historical fiction iis.

I LOVE GORE VIDAL!!! Rereading this book now in the political chaos of 2024, served to remind me of the early struggle of ideas among the men (and women?) who shaped our democracy. The sometimes irreverent views of his peers expressed by Burr and some by Charlie made me laugh. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I have re-read this book several times. It's well written, and it provides a really interesting alternative take on American History.The elderly Aaron Burr is supposedly telling the "real" story of the American Revolution, instead of the one that went in the history books. So Washington is fat and a horrible military leader, Jefferson is an sociopath who kept his own children in slavery, etc... yet its still very humorous and fun. And you will learn a lot about real history, as well as learning the truly valuable lesson of always questioning the version of history you are being told.Many people get thrown off because the first half of the book focuses on the narrator character meeting Burr as an old man. So much of the first part of the story takes place in the Andrew Jackson era of the 1820s, not the George Washington era of the 1790s. But so what? It's still a great book and they do get to Washington and the 1790s eventually.

I bet you will devour this book like I did...full of history, politics and scandals of another era. Gore Vidal is of course an incredible writer. It was a good follow up to Hamilton.

El libro está en ingles pero es perfecto

Em Burr, Gore Vidal descreve, com riqueza de detalhes, os últimos anos da vida do Coronel Aaron Burr, terceiro vice-presidente norte-americano, herói da guerra de independência contra o Império britânico, cuja trajetória controversa suscita desprezo de boa parte da comunidade política americana. Herói ou traidor?Estamos diante de um trabalho de pesquisa histórica fiel aos acontecimentos que pontuaram a vida pessoal e política de um dos maiores republicanos no tecido político norte-americano, além de um poder de absoluto controle de recursos literários, típicos de um dos mais brilhantes romancistas da América do século XX. A humanidade, em sua virtude e em seus delitos, exposta de maneira contundente, certeira e pungente, através do olhar crítico do genial Gore Vidal.

Vidal's portrayal of Aaron Burr was extensively researched over about a decade and gives a very different picture of a man condemned in his time and by history for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel in a secluded spot in Jersey; duelling was illegal at the time.  A statue of Hamilton was erected on the spot and he was basically canonized while Burr was vilified although it was a fair duel and fought over a serious outrage.The story of Burr is being told by a young law clerk, one Charles Schuyler, in the offices of Burr & Sill beginning in the year 1833 as Burr, age 77, was about to embark on a second marriage.  Schuyler tells the events himself from this point on but engages Burr in his reminiscences of past adventures in the Continental army, legal battles, his love life, politics, land speculations, his time as Jefferson's vice-president and, of course, his infamous duel with Hamilton.  Surprisingly, Burr appears to have no rancour toward those who have thwarted his ambitions, slandered him, or rose above him through infamy but gives a straightforward, witty retelling of events with great aplomb and often nostalgia.  Certainly, he lived in exciting times and knew all the major players of the founding of the United States of America.Burr's (or Vidal's) views on John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson are quite different than what are those commonly held. Certainly, Burr, in this instance, is seen to esteem his nemesis Hamilton higher than those generally considered the great founding fathers.While it took me longer than usual to digest this book, I think that was more due to lack of reading time rather than it being hard to get through.  Schuyler's activities as a potential contributor to various magazines and pamphlets and his attempt to draw information from Burr in order to establish a parental connection between Burr and future president Martin Van Buren contribute greatly to the colour of the times and the events are well told and not difficult to follow.  This is the first of a 7-volume series, Narratives of Empire that covers from 1771 - the early 1950s, but it's a great place to start especially if you've seen Hamilton.  A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Brilliantly written, Burr's character engaging and charming, I read it in a few days.

A brilliant historical novel written by a fiercely intelligent, witty political commentator. So clever.