Maslin Watch: Didn't We Just Do This?

Come to think of it, we did--and since Maslin went fluffy yesterday, today she gets all serious in a review of Ron Chernow's new bio of Alexander Hamilton. She starts by detailing all the exciting things Chernow did besides read old letters and journals to research the book:

In the course of his research for this monumental biography, Ron Chernow arranged to lift and aim the dueling pistols thought to have been used by Alexander Hamilton and his killer, Aaron Burr. He visited the jail cell on St. Croix where Hamilton's mother was imprisoned for adultery. He found the precise spot on the island of Bequia to which James Hamilton, Alexander's father, disappeared after abandoning his illegitimate son. To answer questions raised about Hamilton's racial heritage, Mr. Chernow commissioned genetic testing of a lock of Alexander's hair.

But mostly he had to read. A lot.

After dwelling on the tonnage of Hamilton's writing for a while, Maslin pretty much whips through the life, here and there pointing out aspects she thinks Chernow does particularly well at depicting. A little more background on what he calls the "golden age of literary assassination in American politics" might have been welcome, to supply a richer context, but mostly this is a squarely solid effort.