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Molly Beer's nonfiction work is a depiction of the early years of the American colonies primarily through the perspective of Angelica Schuyler Church. Daughter of noted general and statesman Philip Schuyler of Albany, NY, Angelica was deeply interested in politics. Given the prominence of her family, she became acquainted with and ultimately friends with the likes of Lafayette, George Washington, and even Thomas Jefferson.

Through her sister's marriage to Alexander Hamilton, he too became both her friend and a confidant. Angelica was unusual for her time in that she lived abroad for a while in both Paris and London and was renowned as a gracious and influential hostess.
Beer draws on a treasure trove of letters to create this portrait of Angelica, a woman who never held any official position, and who of course, could not vote.

I found Beer's book fascinating both for its history of three early wars and for its setting in upstate New York, where I lived for some years. A list of the principal figures and their titles would have been helpful for this reader. Recommended especially for American history buffs and those interested in18th century women's history.

Angelica – For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution

The captivating story of Angelica Schuyler Church, driven by Molly Beer's eloquent, vivid narrative and rooted in her extensive research, illuminates the often-unforgiving exposé of Angelica's extended family and friends, politicians, and nations amid the ever-shifting hopes and fortunes of the time. Changes not only in the colonies of the New World and the War of Independence, but also across the Atlantic, where England, France, and Spain were constantly subject to fluctuating allegiances, alliances, and interests. As the War of Independence dragged on, we hear how the 'factionalism, regionalism, individual ambitions, and contrasting objectives splintered the delicate unity of shared purpose'.

Following the treaty with the English that ended the war, Angelica spent most of the following fourteen years both travelling between and living in England and France. She witnessed the beginnings of the French Revolution and the subsequent demise of the American-French alliance, ultimately resulting in closer and what would become long-lasting ties between England and its former American colonies. Support for freedom, justice, and liberty, not only for men, but for women and the enslaved, as espoused by Angelica and made so lucid in Ms. Beer's writing, continues to this day.

This book is more than the biography of Angelica Schuyler Church, Colonial daughter, wife and mother... It is more than a history of the Revolutionary War battles. It is a treatise on the role of women in the male dominated society of this era

The men in Angelicas family are all wealthy and influential. The women are maternal and "charming". Angelica had hopes that this new government would give some rights and status to women so was dismayed when it did neither.

The well written book is filled with details of daily living and quotes made by the founding fathers. The author caused me to stop and rethink my ideas of these revered men and their Declaration. I am recommending it to all the women in my life.

I did not know anything about this person in our American history until I read this book. It is written more in a nonfiction style. The details sometimes get very detailed but it makes me want to read more about the family and her life in our country's history. She definitely deserves more discussion in the history of our nation's beginnings.

Next on the TBR pile is " My Dear Hamilton: a novel of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton"by Stephanie Dray. I loved her book on Frances Perkins: "Becoming Madam Secretary ".

Who is Angelica Schuyler Carter Church.? Many will know her as Alexander Hamilton's friend from the Broadway musical play Hamilton. Molly Beer presents Angelica as much more than a "dear" friend of Hamilton's and corrects the play's script to present an expanded view of Angelica. While Angelica's husband plays a role in the play he is not mentioned by name; here John B. Carter/Church is a focal point that allows Angelica to play socialite, hostess, provocateur, and advocate of policies and principles.

In four segments, Beer introduces Angelica as a Dutch colonial child and young woman, as a wife of the Revolutionary War, as a socialite and ambassador of the new United States, and as an advocate of the expanding land of a westward moving new country. American colonial and United States history is documented via letters and newspapers always chosen with a viewpoint of the American female through Angelica's eyes. Author Beer received funding from the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan.

The strength of the book is the cultural and social picture Beer portrays and paints of life in the new world and France and England during Angelica's lifetime. Using vignettes of life events of people of the period (her father Philip Schuyler, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John and Abigail Adams and her siblings, etc.) the reader learns about travel, parties, dress, food, household furnishings, parenting, education, friends and quasi friends, gossip, military operations, women as military support and companions, politics, governing, enemies. When exact information was not available to the author, Beer notes that Angelica might have done a similar common or popular activity.

The two middle sections are heavily laden with American, French, and British military and political names. Unless the reader is a historian the multitude of names could be confusing for often little is referenced about a person's contribution to history other than social or political or marital or friendship connections. As was customary, many members of families also had similar names honoring family and friends.

Angelica "was a conductor of relationships, a conduit, a river–fluid and fluent." Beer's concluding statement accurately summarizes her work of nonfiction about Angelica Schuyler Church and her times. "As for Angelica's own accomplishments, absent any measure for women's contributions, they are immeasurable, save for her indelible presence in the record, an impression too strong to fade with time."

Angelica Church was unknown to me until I received the book for review. Her extraordinary life as a woman in the late 18th - early 19th centuries was well described in the book named after her. Unusually for a woman during this time, she was as influential as many of the politicians she knew. Her communiques with leaders in positions of political office and military commanders was varied and complex.

As a strong, intelligent and opinionated person, she was listened to by some of the world's most luminous people of the time. Molly Beer wrote a superbly researched book. I appreciate the details, although at times the family tree minutiae was long.

This book is an excellent refresher of early American history and has already become a springboard for my personal reading of other individuals who influenced the world during this revolutionary period of history.

Angelica Schuyler Church had a full and active life associating with many famous people and families at important times in our history. ANGELICA tells her story with much detail. Molly Beer greatly researched her life and times and presents the facts in a readable and interesting story.

The book includes many historical figures, some more well known than others, and I found it a little difficult to keep everyone straight, Quite a time period is spanned and fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, nieces and nephews shared the same names. A list of characters would be helpful. The story seemed to lag at times with too much detail, especially Angelica's time in England and France.

I did gain a new insight into the everyday lives and activities of people experiencing the upheaval of the Revolutionary War. I would recommend it to those interested in how our country was formed and the influence of a well connected lady.

I live in the Albany, NY area, so I thought I was pretty familiar with the Schuyler family. This book opened my eyes to another dimension of the Schuyler family entirely. Angelica was quite a firecracker. She was very opinionated, in social circles that helped broadened her horizons, which was quite astounding for a woman during those turbulent times. She was interested in politics and was acquainted with many prominent people of the time including George Washington, and Lafayette. Alexander Hamilton was her brother in law and confidant.

Molly Beer's extensive research pulls the story together. The book reads like a history book and would be of interest to anyone interested American history, women's studies, and New York history, I particular. I struggled to get through the early parts of the book which I found a bit slow. I also felt that the book could have used additional editing. But all in all a pretty good read.