Archive for July 2015

New Hamilton Book I Highly Recommend

I received a signed copy of Hamilton: The Formative Years from author Michael Newton today. What a wonderful surprise. Newton's book covers primarily the same period in Hamilton's life that mine does but it is much more in depth and completely different. This latest release I can imagine will be a reference for many years to come as the definitive work on Hamilton's early years. I would have loved to have consulted it when I wrote my historical fiction work on Hamilton. Among the sources I had were Flexner's work on young Alexander Hamilton.  Flexner's accuracy was not always the best. He got the name of the township where Hamilton and Washington crossed the Delaware to attack Trenton completely wrong. In his book he called it Upper Wakefield. It was Upper Makefield I know because I lived there. But this is an just an aside.

I encourage all to check out Newton's new work on Hamilton. I can't imagine the work it took to create something so authoritative. It must have been a Herculean task! So if you are at all interested in the most ambitious founding father of the United States run don't walk to your nearest book store and grab a copy or download it on your e-reader. I certainly wish Michael all the greatest success with his new book.

Here's a link to it on AMAZON





Tuesday
Posted by Robert Child

London Calling Soon on Presale at Amazon

On Presale Soon.

"The follow up to The Russian van Gogh."

Forensic Art Detective, Riley Spenser, returns in this thrilling follow up to the, Russian van Gogh.
Monday
Posted by Robert Child

Keep HamilTEN!

Image Courtesy of the New York Post the newspaper founded by Hamilton
I wanted to add my voice to the chorus of boos directed at the Treasury for their recent announcement that Alexander Hamilton would be removed from the $10 bill to be replaced by a woman of merit to be named later. Come again? Remove Hamilton from the currency - the first Treasury Secretary of the United States and the founder of our banking system for someone unnamed? I agree completely with, Rand Scholet, President and Founder of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society in his comments about the injustice.

"The injustice of women not yet placed on U.S. currency does not justify creating another injustice by removing Alexander Hamilton from the $10 bill. The ‘Women on 20s’ campaign makes a persuasive case for the use of the $20 bill for highlighting distinguished U.S. women. Hamilton gave the United States its economic, financial, banking, and monetary systems that strengthened the nation during its founding, and has fueled its economic growth for over 225 years. Alexander Hamilton deserves to be "Right on the Money!" 

Rand is certainly not alone. Numerous articles have appeared highlighting the outrage including articles in the New York Times.

Ron Chernow, author of Hamilton makes an eloquent unapologetic argument to keep Hamilton on the currency in a recent article on Politico.

Ironically in our increasingly politically correct world the person who deserves to be removed from the currency is Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. He is the President responsible for the Trail of Tears, which removed Native Americans from their tribal lands. If you read further into Jackson's history I am confident you will be appalled.

I had the opportunity to study Hamilton in depth while writing my historical novel Rush on Boys: Hamilton at War. I felt after months and months I came to understand the man and his motivations and especially his hopes and dreams for what America could be. We live in Hamilton's America not Jefferson's and the groundwork that Hamilton laid has supported our nation's economy for over 225 years. He was an immigrant who saw the greatness of America before it was even a nation. And in my opinion we should honor and celebrate the man who gave us so much by keeping him "on the money." 

If you want to learn more about the Keep HamilTEN initiative the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society has created a Resource Page with many links and quotes. They will also be highlighting this issue at their upcoming Celebrate Hamilton Days July 10 - 14 in NY/NJ. More information HERE.



Thursday
Posted by Robert Child

99th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Ninety nine years ago today, July 1, 1916 was the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army. On this day more than 57,000 casualties occurred in a capture of less than five miles of ground. Imagine that type of carnage. Even casualties in the battle of Gettysburg which occurred over three days are thought by most historians to number around 51,000.



WWI, the Great War, was thought by most combatants involved to be the LAST WAR. They thought it had to be so terrible as to prevent another one. Well history of course proved them wrong. 100 years ago in 1915 marked the introduction of gas attacks on the battlefield. It was a horrific way to die as many at first did not know what was happening but once they did it was too late. They died essentially from drowning from the fluid in their own collapsed lungs.

I have written a book on the last 100 days of the war called, How Canada Won The Great War. It is a provocative title but one that is based on meticulous research and absolutely accurate. You can pick up a copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many other places.

Below is an audio except from the book which describes the Battle of the Somme read by the great Colin McLean. It is available on itunes and Audible.com
Wednesday
Posted by Robert Child

Contact Me

Contact Me
Click Email Icon Above

Monthly Newsletter



Tribute to Joe Small

Tribute to Joe Small
Joe Small Exec. Prod. - Wereth Eleven
Powered by Blogger.

Blog Archive

- Copyright © Robert Child Emmy Nominated Screenwriter / Director -Metrominimalist- Powered by Blogger - Designed by Johanes Djogan -