logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
35m 52s

The Real Hamilton: An American Myth?

History Hit
About this episode

11 Tonys, a Grammy, a Pulitzer Prize and broken box office records - there's no denying the impact of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton.


Throughout this series on the real Hamilton, we have been trying to uncover the man the musical is based on. But how much of the show and its production is truthful? And how much does this matter?


Renee Romano joins Don to look into this new American Myth. Renee is a writer, historian and professor, and one of the editors of 'Historians on Hamilton: How a Blockbuster Musical is Restaging America's Past'. She can be found here.


Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for $1 per month for 3 months with code AMERICANHISTORY sign up at https://historyhit.com/subscription/ 


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Sep 3
The People's Founding Father
Signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, James Wilson was a sitting Supreme Court justice when he died. So why is he missing from popular history?From inspiring the phrase 'we the people' to starting the ball rolling on the Electoral College, Jesse ... Show More
40m 34s
Aug 31
The Truth About the Louisiana Purchase
We're all taught in school about the Louisiana Purchase, supposedly the greatest bargain in American history. Napoleon's deal with the Americans is widely remembered as a triumph for the United States… but is this history really as simple as we’re often taught?Our guest today is ... Show More
43m 16s
Aug 27
Did Lee's Surrender End the Civil War?
When and where did the Civil War end? Was it really over when Lee surrendered at Appomattox?Don is joined for this episode by Caroline E. Janney, Professor at the University of Virginia and author of 'Ends of War: The Unfinished Fight of Lee’s Army after Appomattox'.Listen to hea ... Show More
40m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
Series 5: Alexander Hamilton
Sara Barron, Ivo Graham & Jenny Bede on the American Founding Father, the real man behind the hit musical Hamilton.Producer Beth O'Dea 
42m 5s
Sep 2024
Alexander Hamilton
As the iconic musical comes to Dublin, we explore the life and legacy of one of America's most influential founders, Alexander Hamilton. 
55 m
Jul 2024
Hamilton
Hamilton: the musical that launched a thousand lip-biting memes. Almost a decade ago, Lin Manuel Miranda’s race-bending rap-sical took broadway by storm and rose to unprecedented levels of success, amassing a dedicated, almost fanatical global fanbase. Yet with ticket prices star ... Show More
1h 29m
Jul 2025
🇺🇸 Hamilton: From Founding Father To Broadway Star
Subscribe to The Best Idea Yet here: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/In 2008, Lin-Manuel Miranda badly needed a vacation. He’d just won the Tony for his musical “In The Heights,” he’d been going nonstop. So he took a break, bringing a book with him for poolside loungi ... Show More
42m 39s
Jul 2025
ReThinking: What motivates great Americans with Ron Chernow
Ron Chernow is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer whose work has deepened our understanding of the men who made history in America, and even inspired Lin Manuel Miranda to write his musical about Alexander Hamilton. In this episode, he and Adam discuss Ron’s new book on Mark Twa ... Show More
35m 46s
Jul 2020
‘Hamilton’ Is a Movie. Or Is It? Plus: Remembering Ennio Morricone.
Sean and Amanda discuss the life and career of the legendary film composer Ennio Morricone, who died on Sunday at 91 (1:24). Then they discuss the new additions to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and what it means for the Oscars (0:00). And finally, Lin-Manuel Mir ... Show More
1h 14m
Sep 2019
Footnotes: Lin-Manuel Miranda
The Grammy, Tony and Emmy-award winner and creator of smash-hit musical 'Hamilton' Lin-Manuel Miranda joins the gang to talk about the potential Porno musical, his relationship with his own father and the great (but very much not late) Dick Van Dyke. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co ... Show More
28m 32s
Jul 2020
The Birth of 'Hamilton'
With the 'Hamilton' film now streaming, we look back at the genesis of the show and more with musical director Alex Lacamoire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
45m 44s
Sep 2016
Alexander Hamilton: Most Influential American?
<p>Alexander Hamilton, the "ten dollar founding father," is more than the toast of Broadway. In fact, he just may be the most influential American in history. A brash genius, Hamilton wasn't much of a politician. He was all about policy. Learn all about Hamilton in today's episod ... Show More
49m 20s