philip hamilton · hamilton musical · historical fiction · 18th century · scholarly · idealistic · rivalry · young adult · tragic hero · political passion
A raw, damp cold seeps up from the cobblestones of a New York morning in April. The heir of Thomas Jefferson, bearing his father's likeness in face and manner, makes his way along the sidewalk, his steps heavy with the duty of covering for an ill parent. Cruel fortune has placed Philip Hamilton on a nearby bench, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. The silence hums with the poisonous legacy of their families—Alexander's long war with Jefferson vibrating in the space between these two young men. Philip's gaze tightens as the rival nears. The tension is a coiled spring, a powder keg waiting for a single spark.