Pride and Pleasure: The Schuyler Sisters in an Age of Revolution

by Amanda Vaill

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, PRIDE AND PLEASURE tells the story of Angelica and Elizabeth Schuyler, born to wealth and privilege in New York's Hudson Valley during the latter half of the 18th century. Raised to make good marriages and supervise substantial households, they became embroiled in the turmoil of America's insurrection against Great Britain — and rebelled themselves, in ways as different as each was from the other, against the destiny mapped out for them.

Glamorous Angelica, who sought fulfillment through attachments to powerful men, eloped at twenty with a war profiteer and led a luxurious life, first in Paris, then in London, charming Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and the Prince of Wales. Eliza, one year her junior, too candid for flirtation and uninterested in influence or intrigue, married a penniless illegitimate outsider, Alexander Hamilton, and devoted herself to his career. But after his appointment as America's first treasury secretary, she was challenged by the controversies in which he became involved, not the least of which was the attraction that grew between him and her adored sister.

When tragedy followed, everything changed for both women: one deprived of her animating spirit, the other improbably gaining a new, self-determined life. "You would not have suffered if you had married into a family less near the sun," wrote Angelica to Eliza, "but then [you would have missed] the pride, the pleasure, the nameless satisfactions."

Drawing on deep archival research, including never-published records and letters, Amanda Vaill dismantles the false binary of private experience and public events to create a history of the founding era that is also a narrative with the sweep and intimacy of a nineteenth-century novel. Full of battles and dinner parties, murky politics and transparent frocks, fierce loyalty and betrayals both public and personal, PRIDE AND PLEASURE brings to two extraordinary American heroines to life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Biography Memoir, American History, Politics, American Revolution

720 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2025

About the author

Amanda Vaill is the author of four biographies: PRIDE AND PLEASURE, a nominee for the NBCC Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and BIO's Plutarch Award; HOTEL FLORIDA; SOMEWHERE; and the best-selling EVERYBODY WAS SO YOUNG, also an NBCC finalist. She has co-authored, contributed to, or edited a number of other books in the field of arts and culture. She is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter and her journalism and criticism have appeared in many publications, including the New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Town and Country, and New York. A past fellow of the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library, she lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Tara Cignarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pride and Pleasure by Amanda Vaille
Writing: A-
Information: B+
Format: B
Best Aspect: Very different nonfiction history book. Don’t let the 700+ pages scare you off about 25% of it is notes.
Worst Aspect: This was so detailed and so long and history of this depth is not my preferred reading.
Recommend: Yes.
NetGalley ARC release 10/21/25

[Laura✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Vaill’s Pride and Pleasure is a sweeping historical narrative that chronicles the lives of the Schuyler sisters, namely Eliza, and their close family and friends. With meticulous research, Vaill brings the past to life in a way that is both intellectually satisfying and engaging.

What Vaill did particularly well was weave the personal stories of these historical figures with the national and global forces that shaped the era. Readers will not only discover new perspectives on the lives of Eliza and Alexander and their inner circle but also gain a deeper understanding of the wars, revolutions, pandemics, and recessions that shaped their world.

While the book is a bit of an investment in time (it's a big one!), it did keep my interest and gave me many new insights into the family and era.

This was an ARC review for NetGalley.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the Schuyler women the story of the American Revolution and the fledgling nation is told. You see the interpersonal relationships of the major players and the roles that love, competition and jealousy played in the lives of the founders..

This is a major work of incredible research.

There are 5 Schuyler sisters, while all appear, this book belongs to Angelica and Eliza (Elizabeth). Sister, Peggy (Margaret) married well, became ill and died young. Sisters Cornelia and Kitty (Catherine) are too young to experience the Revolution as Angelica and Eliza do. They feature most at the end where there are estate/ financial issues.

Angelica, the oldest, is a social butterfly…. today we would call her an extraordinary networker. She spends 16 Years in England (with short residences in France) so you see the European perspective on the events in America. In England she socializes with John and Abagail Adams and in France Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

Her husband is rich and she lives, dresses and entertains the part. She is also a flirt. She, a married woman, attracts the widowed Thomas Jefferson who sends her lewd drawings and hints that they should travel together. Angelica is no fool, she spots something very untoward with TJ and Sally, his servant.

Angelica’s teasings are not always light. The author, Amanda Veill, shows the correspondence between Angelica and her sister Eliza’s husband, Alexander Hamilton. The words and phrases of affection go far beyond the flowery language of the day.

Eliza does not let on about her feelings, but it is hard to believe she does not know. Vaille shows not only the letters, but also primary source reports of her husband and sister together.

Eliza is a hard and efficient worker. From her political family she is rooted in the ways of war and politics: she advises her husband (the outsider from Neves) Hamilton. All the while she is running a complex household. The Hamiltons will not use slaves (as Eliza's sisters do) to help cook, clean and tend to children. Hamilton does not have a steady income, So you see how she manages the challenge of feeding, clothing and educating their many children and the children they take in all the while assisting her husband.

She further proves to be an ideal wife in the Reynolds’s Affair, which is immortalized in Miranda’s “I’m in Love with your Body”. Vaille’s explanation of why Hamilton would write such sentiments is the best I’ve seen. His very public defense of his affair with Mrs. Reynolds makes the humiliation even greater for the steadfast Eliza. It adds to the pain of Angelica’s flirtation with Alexander and the loss of her young son in a senseless duel in which her other son played a part.

Eliza's life contrasts with that of her sister Angelica’s life in England . Angelica’s sons go to the best schools. She hob nobs with aristocrats. You read how she furnishes her gorgeous home and of her extensive wardrobe. Vaille describes her parties and balls with guest lists that include the Prince of Wales. No expense is spared.

Angelica helps friends escape the terrors of the French Revolution. There is an episode of how she plots an (almost successful) escape for Lafayette held in prison in Saxony.

There is a downside for Angelica too. She had to overcome her embarrassment that her husband was not who he said he was. It is not said outright, that his wealth is from war profiteering. Her husband gambles and she needs to keep up appearances when their finances are shaky. No one must know when they try to sell their home/estate. She misses her family and America.

There is a lot on how the US government was set up amidst the clash of personalities of the founders. You read of George Washington’s detractors and then, how after his death he was revered such that it was considered to be disloyal to say that Hamilton ghost wrote his visionary farewell address.

While there is a good reporting on what led up to the Hamilton-Burr duel there is not much on the actual duel or of Hamilton’s short convalescence.

What follows is how Eliza fights to get Hamilton’s papers and have a biography published.

There are legal issues when the Schuyler patriarch dies which continue as Eliza hosts Lafayette on his American tour, is active in charitable work and manages her own impoverished state… all with 3 still dependent children.

Eliza is the last of the Schuyler sisters, she dies at age 97.

This is highly recommended for those who want to take a deep dive into the American Revolution and its aftermath.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written, deeply researched, deep-dive into the Schuyler family [with the main focus on Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy, even though there WERE other sisters; they are mentioned briefly and to be honest, I could not even tell you their names] and their lives, spouses, the Revolutionary War and its aftermath, along with their lives long after the war was over. The later half [ish] of the book focuses mainly on Eliza and all she did and accomplished after Alexander Hamilton died [she was a true force to be reckoned with; the parts telling about her fight to get his papers recognized by Congress was really interesting]; I was and am in awe of all she accomplished in her lifetime, most of it without much money [when Alexander was killed, he left $55,000 in debt. In modern money, that is close to $3million dollars!!] and ALWAYS with some man trying to tell her just WHY she shouldn't!

This book is extremely detailed and to be honest, sometimes it gets bogged down with all that minutiae and it is there that I struggled; I am a reader of nonfiction and history [over half of my books are of that genre/subgenre] and love a good detail, but whoosh this was a lot of a lot at times. Also, be prepared from some confusion in regards to ALL. THE. NAMES. THAT. ARE. THE. SAME. [I seriously lost track of how many Philip, Catherine, Angelica, Eliza/Betsy, Peggy, John, and Alexander names there were. An example; all of the living children of the original 14 of Philip and Catherine Schuyler that had children had a Philip - it gets very confusing very quickly and I would have cried at the sight of a family tree]; if I had known it was going to be so confusing, I would have tried to make a list, but to be honest, I am quite certain I would have missed some. ;-)

Overall, this was an excellent read and I truly enjoyed learning more about this fascinating family.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Vaill, and Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recording 4, book 5 stars. This is a shared biography of the Schuyler sisters, most famous for their connection to Alexander Hamilton and newly so thanks to Lin Manuel Miranda. Eliza is the focus, both for her much longer lifetime and her marriage to Hamilton, but Angelica gets her share of attention too. (less so Peggy, who seems to have sadly become an invalid.) For readers of Revolutionary-era history much will be familiar (including the opening sequence of the Hamilton-Burr duel) but the research is deep and the writing is extremely accessible. It moves faster than the page count suggests.
The recording was mostly very good - I very much liked the different narrators for the sections focused on the Schuylers vs sections focused more on the history of the period. Both readers were very good, without a ton of acting but occasionally notable accents, especially French. There are a handful of curiously wrong pronounciations, often of proper nouns - most egregiously saying ConCORDE (that's an airplane) instead of CONkerd (Mass). I feel strongly that if you're going to read a book about the American Revolution, you should get the place names right.
All in all, a very enjoyable listen. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Chet Cutick · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, my one criticism: The book really could've used a couple of pages of family trees- the Hamiton's the Church's, etc. So many of the children and grandchildren had the same names, it took some effort at times to figure out which was which.

Beyond that, what a wonderful book. Yes, a bit more gossipy than your traditional historical biography, but that also made it fun. By the last few pages, as Eliza, in her late 90s (so very unusual for that time) was failing, I found myself wiping away tears. I've always been a huge fan of Alexander Hamilton* so this book fills out the other half of his life. Eliza lived so long, rebuilding her husband's legacy. When she passes away, I felt like I was there.

Whenever I go to Manhattan (I live in NYC), my usual bus stop is Trinity Church. It's been a long time since going into the cemetery there, usually just walking by it to get to the subway. But next time, I'll stop in and say thank you- to Alexander, Eliza, and Angelica.


*When I was in high school, I had a teacher for an American government class, that always made his students stand up whenever the name of Alexander Hamilton was mentioned. Back in 1978, we all laughed at the comedy of it, but we did stand because we absolutely loved our teacher. We became not just his fans, but fans of his hero, Alexander Hamilton.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title indicates, the book focuses on the Schuyler sisters, in particular, Eliza, who married Alexander Hamilton, and her older sister, Angelica, who carried on a serious flirtation with Alexander. There's no evidence that the flirtation tipped over into sexual intimacy, but that doesn't stop Vaill from speculating. At the beginning of the book, I was irritated by Vaill's constant speculation, along the lines of, "She must have thought..." or "Wouldn't she have felt...". Stick to the historical record, woman, I thought. There's a lot of American history in the book that has been covered elsewhere, but I didn't know it, so that wasn't a problem. It is a very long book, however, and I confess to having skimmed in the middle. One thing she doesn't speculate about is why Hamilton, who clearly adored Eliza, was willing to risk his marriage for a sexual fling. In fact, Vaill suggests that Eliza was more upset about the flirtation with her sister than the actual affair with Maria Reynolds, and there is some evidence that what really bothered Eliza was not the affair, but Hamilton's publishing of the Reynolds Pamphlet. I enjoyed the last part of the book the most because it focuses on Eliza. Eliza was not just Hamilton's wife, but his collaborator. She was his amanuensis and gave him suggestions about wording. After his death, she tried hard to get the widow's pension which he had rejected. She needed the money to support her family. She also wanted Hamilton's reputation given the recognition it deserved. Some of Washington's supporters were furious at the idea that Hamilton had written Washington's Farewell Address. They thought it would diminish Washington, although Washington clearly didn't think so. What, they didn't have speech writers in the 18th century? Hamilton knew what Washington believed and knew the words that would best convey his message. That Washington was no speech writer or giver doesn't take away from his being, in the end, an inspiring general and a great president. After his death, Eliza really came into her own, with her advocacy for orphans. She lived to be 97 and she was amazingly active during most of her life. It's too bad that Vaill didn't shorten the book and focus more on Eliza from the start.

[Nicole Perkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amanda Vaill’s book “Pride and Pleasure: The Schuyler Sisters in an Age of Revolution” is an excellent account of the American Revolution, the events leading up to it, and the years after, with a focus on one of the foremost families of the time. Angelica, Elizabeth, and Margarita Schuyler were associated with (and married to) some of the most influential people involved with this country’s rise to independence. I have little interest in American history (mostly because it’s an on-going saga of privileged people behaving in appalling ways and doing their best to crush people seen as “less than”); however, Vaill’s book is attention-grabbing, informative, and fast-moving, not so fast that readers are confronted with confusing timelines, but fast enough that you don’t have time to get bored while reading of the various battles, meetings, and political appointments of the key players (all men, of course). It would be interesting to see what the Schuyler sisters would have been if they lived in later centuries; in the eighteenth century they could only be “helpmeets,” overseeing the house, tending to the children, and sparkling at social events geared toward advancing their husbands’ careers. In the nineteenth century they could have been suffragettes, and politicians in the twentieth century and today.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What a family. They had such immense power and influence and I would argue the eldest two Schuyler sisters more than almost anyone else. Angelica in particular had access to SO Many people from the US, UK and France. She was well. connected. And I like at the end a subtle reference to the fact that one of her sons resembled Alexander. No big deal. (WHAT?!?! I mean their letters were steamy, but did their love ever jump off the page into a real bed...seems like it might have. Poor Eliza.)

And Poor Eliza. Hamilton was a hot head. He knew that dueling would leave her and his kids with worse than nothing and he did it anyway. Again, WHAT?!?! But I shouldn't be so quick to judge, it was another time, blah blah blah, but man. I know he was next level smart--I just hope he was funny, a good dancer and cute too. Because he seemed like A WHOLE LOT to put up with.

And there was an enormous number of Phillips, Angelicas, Elizas, Kittys, Alexanders, Johns and more. Did they all have to name their children after each other? It was really hard to keep everyone straight at times.

And talk about your big families. It seemed like the ladies were pregnant all the time. Even their mom Katie was pregnant when her oldest daughters were starting their families. Lots of babies. All named the same names.

Lastly. Let's talk about Eliza. I'm glad she had a temper. I'm glad she left people have it--including James Monroe when he was president. She seemed formidable and continued to be so until her last day. I'm glad she was honored as time went by. (And I was horrified when she was going to have to sell the Grange and then again when her son lost the house in New York for her.) She seemed classy and spunky until the end. Boy, I wish I could know what only she knew about the letters Hamilton and she didn't want seen...so much there.

This was a terrific book. It was a great one to read during Americas' 250 and also in a year when I'm taking a trip to London.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this incredible dual biography of the famous Schuyler sisters, Amanda Vaill explores the fascinating lives of Angelica Schuyler Church and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton in this densely packed and informative new release. Following their shared childhood as Hudson Valley aristocrats and their rejection of society’s expectations for their marriages, the two women find themselves at the heart of the American Revolution. Angelica eloped with a war profiteer and lived the high political life abroad and in New York, while Eliza married penniless aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton whose political career and controversies challenged their relationship. Packed with detail and incredibly informative, this book is dense but deeply enjoyable, and true fans of American history, women’s history, and Hamilton will love this deep dive into the Schuyler sisters’ lives. The juxtaposition of their two narrative and unique challenges they face really humanize the women, while Vaill expertly brings the political and social circumstances of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries to life to contextualize their lives. The incredible research and use of sources really demonstrate Vaill’s commitment to this project, and readers of all kinds will benefit from her incredible new release and the beautiful narrative structure and flow of their extraordinary lives at the center of the Revolution.

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux for the advance copy.

[Jane Considine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books like this one increase my admiration for authors who dig deep into a topic, seeming to leave no research stone unturned. The Schuyler sisters Angelica and Eliza rubbed elbows with many public figures in American history: George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James and Dollie Madison, John and Abagail Adams, John Quincy Adams, Ben Franklin, Lafayette, James Monroe, Aaron Burr, John Jay ... Angelica also spent several years in England and France and socialized on a grand scale with celebrities and royalty. Their father, Philip Schuyler, was one of the wealthy Hudson valley aristocrats who provided a genteel life as they were growing up and continued to have a role in their lives (and that of their offspring) as the matured, married and had families.
Addendum: my review overlooked the obvious; Eliza was married to Alexander Hamilton and Angelica was very fond of Hamilton, shared her thoughts with him on policy in development as the country and its leaders tried to find common ground ... and at times gave some observers the impression that there was more to their relationship as in-laws. Eliza was ever-loyal to Hamilton and championed him and his legacy long after his death.

[Lisa Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sometimes gets a little too bogged down in details, but overall it does what I assume it meant to do: present the Schuyler sisters as real, complicated people who lived full lives in a time of immense change. The important people around them are also portrayed complexly, leading to a view of history I don't feel like I've ever really seen before. I really liked getting to see what Eliza did with her 50 years beyond Hamilton, and finished the book in admiration of her intelligence and grit.

[Debbie Appelbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable way to remember and learn more about early US history and the under the radar influence of the women of the time. Takes you so far beyond Hamilton the musical. I listened to it. Maybe more 3.5 vs 4. But totally worth the time!

[Deborah Getzoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-researched page turner

Highly detailed and well told history and family history coinciding with current interest in the American Revolution in other media. Beautifully written with important details about Hamilton‘s wife and other women of that period and the impact they had on historical events and the future. Beautifully written and hard to put down.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding research and narrative. If this is an area of interest for you, this is an excellent addition to your collection.

[Barbara H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a well-written and researched book. A great telling of colonial times and the American Revolution. Interesting, detailed description of many of the characters of that time. From the Schuyler sisters, the rest of the Schuyler family, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson to James Madison and much more. Really enjoyed this book.

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the audio book. Focused on Eliza & Angelica Schuyler, it adds both facts and perspective to this period of history. Richly detailed. Big personalities. Battles—military & political—epidemics, slavery, finances, infidelity, tragedies and triumphs. These folks wrote a lot of letters. Recommend.

[Lou Chodosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly researched; a look at early America from a different perspective . Adds to my knowledge of the era.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep dive into the lives of the Schuyler Sisters (think Hamilton), and the history of that era. Fascinating.

[Susan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging read from a feminist perspective on the leaders and events of the early Republic, including key women. Many primary sources are included and analysis of portraits of many of the key individuals. The details of fashions, plays and dances attended are part of the social milieu of the era and Vaill includes more the influence of women on all of the events of the time than most historians. Eliza Schuyler Hamilton is my new hero!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I have seen Hamilton, the play with the original cast, on TV many, many times, this was a real joy to read.
I also watched Ken Burns' American Revolution on PBS so this was more information about different battles and places.
I was surprised about some of the more accurate timeline events. I didn't like Angelica as much as I did in the play. And so sad about Peggy.
This was probably a more realistic portrayal of the Schuyler sister.

[AnnaB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of the Revolution from a female point of view.

[Jay Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heard about this book on either an NPR or NYT Daily broadcast - and being a big fan of Hamilton, I wanted to read this take on the Schuyler sisters.

It's interestingly a lot more actual history than I thought - the previews gave me the impression that much of the work was 'implied fiction'. Excellent example of historical fiction, if this is indeed the case. Loved the interplay btwn the sisters, as well as the relatively deep dive into their parents and spouses. I didn't know much about older sisters' husband; that story was likely deserving of a wholly new book.

Love how the story carried thru the end of Eliza's long life - nice coda to the overall story.

[Syd Bornhuetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being more interested in domestic history, as well as “behind-the-scenes”, this book tickled me. Weaving the story through letters, diaries, accounts, legal documents, etc., made the story so much more fascinating and personal. I feel for those introduced to the Hamilton and Schuyler families through “Hamilton”, especially those who became interested in history, this is particularly great!

You can tell how much work and passion Vaill put into this book, even the parts relying on speculation feel truthful and enticing. She has put Elizabeth and Angelica at the forefront - and it is intensely fun.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the eARC!

Vaill's love of the subject is abundantly proven in this text. While there was too much detail for me, a very amateur historian, I still found the book interesting. It was nice to have another viewpoint on Eliza (other than just Hamilton).
Vaill does a fantastic job of weaving the larger historical context into the lives of the Hamilton sisters.

[Hb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! History has left so many women behind & hidden. I enjoyed reading the information about every day life as well the “important” events surrounding the birth of our country. Highly recommend, it’s a good read!

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently researched. Brings characters to life. I learned a lot.

[K.Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Amanda Vaill's "Pride and Pleasure: The Schuyler Sisters in an Age of Revolution". I had not heard of these women until they were characters in the musical "Hamilton. The sisters, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton and Angelica Schuyler Church were descendants of the wealthy Dutch settlers of New Netherlands, later New York and were amazing historical figures in their own right. Throughout their lives they met, befriended, and entertained many of the American 'Founding Fathers and Mothers'. This book including the index is 700 pages long and I did not get tired of reading about these strong determined women and the history they participated in. Anyone interested in discovering more about early American history will appreciate reading this book.

[Clyde Coon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is great! Part of the story is Alexander Hamilton and the American Revolution but the real star is his wife, Eliza Schuyler. She outlived him by half a century and became an American institution.

[Alexa Reid Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique and fascinating biography of the female counterparts to the founding fathers. I was completely engrossed and learned so much more about the layers and complexities of the interpersonal dynamics of the time - between colleagues, rivals, siblings, spouses. Highly recommend for any fan of Colonial American history!