Residents would wax rhapsodic about “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” but it was unknown south of the border.Īnd then the switch to WB. But Lightfoot wasn’t political and wasn’t controversial, he was just a musician, and that wasn’t enough to break you through to mainstream attention, especially if you were on United Artists Records. So, if you followed the scene, you knew who Gordon Lightfoot was, the singer-songwriter signed to Albert Grossman whose songs were covered by Peter, Paul & Mary, just like Grossman’s other client, Bob Dylan. Insiders might know your name, you might have even had fans, but the masses were clueless…and that’s where the attention, money and fame were, unlike today, where you can be a star in your own mind and be supported by devoted followers. And this plethora was always fighting for radio airplay, and if you didn’t get it, you were dead in the water. Today there are only three majors, half a century ago there were tons of companies, analogous to the tech startups of the first decade of this century. For ages twelve and up.He wasn’t a household name until he switched to Warner Brothers Records. Recommended for teens who are interested in a lively tale and one of history’s great love stories. De la Cruz’s writing is fluid, intelligent and beautiful, with spurts of humor and witty dialogue. The author admits to embellishing much of the private moments, since scant information is known of their courtship. The story focuses on Hamilton’s determination to rise in importance and win Eliza’s hand-even after she’s promised to a wealthy cad. Details of the American Revolution are worked in with the horrible conditions of the war for soldiers. This novel is a good introduction to Hamilton, one of our Founding Fathers, and Elizabeth Schuyler, a formidable woman and humanitarian.

He’s penniless, with little hope of marrying one of Albany’s “princesses.” The Schuylers are a prestigious family, while Alex is an illegitimate child born in the West Indies to a Scottish aristocrat who abandoned him. An energetic, practical girl who is working for the rebel cause, she dislikes Alex at once.

The Schuylers are throwing a party, and Alex reports his ugly mission as the general’s middle daughter, Eliza, overhears. Alex is sent to deliver news of a court-martial for General Schuyler after the loss of Fort Ticonderoga. Hamilton begs for a command of his own so he can fight the British during America’s Revolution, but Washington depends on Alex’s diplomatic skills.

Young Colonel Alexander Hamilton works as secretary to General George Washington in Albany, New York, in 1777.

The alex and eliza trilogy