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Duty and Inclination
During the height of the American Revolution, young men Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens meet in the service of General George Washington. The two men become aides-de-camp, working alongside General Washington and his staff to manage the correspondence, intelligence and secrets needed to propel a ragtag army through a war with the greatest power on Earth.
Hamilton and Laurens quickly form a friendship, sharing similar ideas against slavery and a desire for glory on the battlefield. Yet they soon discover a passion for each other beyond their paperwork and swords. But when the war calls Laurens south and Hamilton learns of a wife left in England, the differing priorities and values between the two men begin to reveal themselves causing both to question what their love and future can be.
Based on true events and personal letters, Duty and Inclination follows the romantic relationship between two men, during one of the pivotal moments in American history, who will leave their mark on their future country and on each other.
Hamilton and Laurens quickly form a friendship, sharing similar ideas against slavery and a desire for glory on the battlefield. Yet they soon discover a passion for each other beyond their paperwork and swords. But when the war calls Laurens south and Hamilton learns of a wife left in England, the differing priorities and values between the two men begin to reveal themselves causing both to question what their love and future can be.
Based on true events and personal letters, Duty and Inclination follows the romantic relationship between two men, during one of the pivotal moments in American history, who will leave their mark on their future country and on each other.
805 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2020
30 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Dupont
1 book18 followersRebecca Dupont has had a passion for writing for twenty years which often combines with her love of history. As a member of the queer community, she wants to use her pen to bring queer history to life. Dupont believes historical fiction, especially based in fact, is a way for many people to understand and see themselves in a past that often prefers to erase them. Dupont is a history and museum studies major who lives with her partner in Washington D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 16, 2020
So far the book has been absolutely phenomenal! I got this less than a week ago and I'm already 500 pages in. I absolutely adore the writing and it proves to be quite the page-turner.
The characters are written nicely and feel real and not fake like many other historical fiction books tend to be. They're not forced and even though I have heavily studied the lives of the two main characters I still find myself intrigued and (at points) holding my breath to see what happens next. Rebecca DuPont's takes on famous battles such as the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Monmouth make it both familiar and fresh at the same time.
It's not just the scenes and characters that are written beautifully; it is also the dialogue. The arguments between the two main characters grip your attention immediately and raise questions that are just dying to be answered. At some points I even felt the same frustrations as the characters, and one single line had me bursting into tears.
All in all, this book is absolutely amazing, and the story that it brings to life has been long overdue. This book is so good that it almost feels like all these years of LGBTQ+ erasure for these two people has been wiped away entirely.
The characters are written nicely and feel real and not fake like many other historical fiction books tend to be. They're not forced and even though I have heavily studied the lives of the two main characters I still find myself intrigued and (at points) holding my breath to see what happens next. Rebecca DuPont's takes on famous battles such as the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Monmouth make it both familiar and fresh at the same time.
It's not just the scenes and characters that are written beautifully; it is also the dialogue. The arguments between the two main characters grip your attention immediately and raise questions that are just dying to be answered. At some points I even felt the same frustrations as the characters, and one single line had me bursting into tears.
All in all, this book is absolutely amazing, and the story that it brings to life has been long overdue. This book is so good that it almost feels like all these years of LGBTQ+ erasure for these two people has been wiped away entirely.
April 15, 2022
It physically pains me to even think about this book. Heartbreaking and written beautifully.
December 31, 2022
5 ☆ | 24.08.20 - 20.11.20
// English review below :)
Seré completamente honesta, y es que al principio me costó conectar con el libro, lo que se ve reflejado en cuánto demoré en acabarlo. Las razones son varias, pero podría resumirlas en que mi nivel de inglés al empezarlo no era el mejor y que mi conocimiento sobre guerras es prácticamente nulo. Además de que lo comencé a leer en medio del periodo escolar y los capítulos son bastante largos, por tanto, mi ritmo de lectura fue muy débil en un inicio. Pero luego de unos días, me motivé mucho y no tenía ganas de acabarlo por el simple hecho de que era consciente de lo triste que el final me iba a poner. Y finalmente se convirtió en uno de mis libros favoritos, el cual me fascinó completamente.
La autora logra capturar la esencia del periodo de una forma muy realista, tanto que a veces me olvidaba de que estaba leyendo ficción (histórica). La investigación realizada detrás de esta obra es sorprendente, de verdad se logra apreciar el esfuerzo y amor puesto y solo me queda aplaudir al respecto. Los "personajes" (no me gusta llamarlos así, porque son personas que existieron realmente, pero bueno) también fueron muy humanos en sus acciones, y sus pensamientos y emociones están escritos de una forma realmente bella, que incluso me logró hacer sentir lo mismo que ellos.
Este libro también me hizo sentir mucho más cercana una época que está muy lejos de ser mi realidad (porque vivo en un país al otro lado del mundo de donde está ambientada la historia; porque hay una diferencia de más 200 años con la misma) y me hizo ver más humanas a las personas que vivieron estos hechos. No sé si sea algo solo mío, pero tiendo a ver como personas completamente serias y casi "sin emociones" a personajes históricos o que vivieron muchos años antes que yo. Y este libro me demostró todo lo contrario. De hecho, me encariñé de muchos personajes secundarios (como Meade, Lafayette y Nora) que cuando llegó su turno de despedirse de los protagonistas me dolió tanto, como si se estuvieran despidiendo de mí.
Si tienen dudas sobre qué tan triste te puede dejar este libro, les comento que el epílogo logró dolerme tanto, o incluso más, que el de Princesa Mecánica de Cassandra Clare, pero insisto en que las lágrimas valen completamente la pena.
Espero que la autora decida escribir otro libro de este género, porque en verdad tiene mucho talento y me gustó demasiado este :') Probablemente me olvidé de comentar muchas cosas, pero solo quisiera repetir que le den una oportunidad al libro, por lo hermoso que es y lo mucho que me hizo sentir con cada página que leía.
.
.
.
I'll be completely honest, because at first I had a hard time connecting with the book, which is reflected in how long it took me to finish it. There are several reasons for this, but I could summarise them by saying that my English level wasn't the best when I started it and that my knowledge of wars is practically non-existent. Besides the fact that I started reading it in the middle of the school period and the chapters are quite long, therefore my reading pace was very weak at the beginning. But after a few days, I was very motivated and didn't feel like finishing it just because I was aware of how sad the end would make me. And finally it became one of my favorite books, which fascinated me completely.
The author manages to capture the essence of the period in a very realistic way, so much so that I sometimes forgot that I was reading (historical) fiction. The research behind this work is amazing, you really manage to appreciate the effort and love put in it and I can only applaud it. The "characters" (I don't like to call them that, because they're people who really existed, but well) were also very human in their actions, and their thoughts and emotions are written in a really beautiful way, which even managed to make me feel the same as them.
This book also made me feel much closer to a time that's very far from my reality (because I live in a country on the other side of the world from which the story is set; because there's a difference of more than 200 years with it) and made me see the people who lived through these events as more human. I don't know if it's just me, but I tend to see historical figures or people who lived many years before me as completely serious and almost "unemotional". And this book showed me just the opposite. In fact, I became so fond of many secondary characters (such as Meade, Lafayette and Nora) that when it was their turn to say goodbye to the protagonists, it pain me so much, as if they were saying goodbye to me.
If you have any doubts about how sad this book can leave you, I can tell you that the epilogue managed to hurt me as much, or even more, than Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, but I insist that the tears are completely worth it.
I hope that the author decides to write another book of this genre, because they really have a lot of talent and I liked this one too much :") I probably forgot to comment on many things, but I would just like to repeat that you should give the book a chance, because it's so beautiful and it made me feel so much with every page that I read.
// English review below :)
Seré completamente honesta, y es que al principio me costó conectar con el libro, lo que se ve reflejado en cuánto demoré en acabarlo. Las razones son varias, pero podría resumirlas en que mi nivel de inglés al empezarlo no era el mejor y que mi conocimiento sobre guerras es prácticamente nulo. Además de que lo comencé a leer en medio del periodo escolar y los capítulos son bastante largos, por tanto, mi ritmo de lectura fue muy débil en un inicio. Pero luego de unos días, me motivé mucho y no tenía ganas de acabarlo por el simple hecho de que era consciente de lo triste que el final me iba a poner. Y finalmente se convirtió en uno de mis libros favoritos, el cual me fascinó completamente.
La autora logra capturar la esencia del periodo de una forma muy realista, tanto que a veces me olvidaba de que estaba leyendo ficción (histórica). La investigación realizada detrás de esta obra es sorprendente, de verdad se logra apreciar el esfuerzo y amor puesto y solo me queda aplaudir al respecto. Los "personajes" (no me gusta llamarlos así, porque son personas que existieron realmente, pero bueno) también fueron muy humanos en sus acciones, y sus pensamientos y emociones están escritos de una forma realmente bella, que incluso me logró hacer sentir lo mismo que ellos.
Este libro también me hizo sentir mucho más cercana una época que está muy lejos de ser mi realidad (porque vivo en un país al otro lado del mundo de donde está ambientada la historia; porque hay una diferencia de más 200 años con la misma) y me hizo ver más humanas a las personas que vivieron estos hechos. No sé si sea algo solo mío, pero tiendo a ver como personas completamente serias y casi "sin emociones" a personajes históricos o que vivieron muchos años antes que yo. Y este libro me demostró todo lo contrario. De hecho, me encariñé de muchos personajes secundarios (como Meade, Lafayette y Nora) que cuando llegó su turno de despedirse de los protagonistas me dolió tanto, como si se estuvieran despidiendo de mí.
Si tienen dudas sobre qué tan triste te puede dejar este libro, les comento que el epílogo logró dolerme tanto, o incluso más, que el de Princesa Mecánica de Cassandra Clare, pero insisto en que las lágrimas valen completamente la pena.
Espero que la autora decida escribir otro libro de este género, porque en verdad tiene mucho talento y me gustó demasiado este :') Probablemente me olvidé de comentar muchas cosas, pero solo quisiera repetir que le den una oportunidad al libro, por lo hermoso que es y lo mucho que me hizo sentir con cada página que leía.
.
.
.
I'll be completely honest, because at first I had a hard time connecting with the book, which is reflected in how long it took me to finish it. There are several reasons for this, but I could summarise them by saying that my English level wasn't the best when I started it and that my knowledge of wars is practically non-existent. Besides the fact that I started reading it in the middle of the school period and the chapters are quite long, therefore my reading pace was very weak at the beginning. But after a few days, I was very motivated and didn't feel like finishing it just because I was aware of how sad the end would make me. And finally it became one of my favorite books, which fascinated me completely.
The author manages to capture the essence of the period in a very realistic way, so much so that I sometimes forgot that I was reading (historical) fiction. The research behind this work is amazing, you really manage to appreciate the effort and love put in it and I can only applaud it. The "characters" (I don't like to call them that, because they're people who really existed, but well) were also very human in their actions, and their thoughts and emotions are written in a really beautiful way, which even managed to make me feel the same as them.
This book also made me feel much closer to a time that's very far from my reality (because I live in a country on the other side of the world from which the story is set; because there's a difference of more than 200 years with it) and made me see the people who lived through these events as more human. I don't know if it's just me, but I tend to see historical figures or people who lived many years before me as completely serious and almost "unemotional". And this book showed me just the opposite. In fact, I became so fond of many secondary characters (such as Meade, Lafayette and Nora) that when it was their turn to say goodbye to the protagonists, it pain me so much, as if they were saying goodbye to me.
If you have any doubts about how sad this book can leave you, I can tell you that the epilogue managed to hurt me as much, or even more, than Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, but I insist that the tears are completely worth it.
I hope that the author decides to write another book of this genre, because they really have a lot of talent and I liked this one too much :") I probably forgot to comment on many things, but I would just like to repeat that you should give the book a chance, because it's so beautiful and it made me feel so much with every page that I read.
June 8, 2021
One of the best books I have ever read.
I just finished my second read through of this book and I can definitively say that this is one of, (if not THE) most touching, inspiring and riveting novels I have ever read. The story is so well told; from the highest moments, to the heart achingly sad, all so well done. The characterizations and emotions of both Laurens and Hamilton are so well thought, and it’s clear that the author put in the research work. I myself have studied history and know how difficult it is to find accurate, unbiased biography’s on these figures (esp. when it comes to the possibility of a homosexual relationship) and yet everything written felt so authentic. Personally, I desperately wish is for this to possibly become a movie one day, as I can see it play out so cinematically in my head! (Spoiler: specifically that scene where John throws the letters at the mirror and it shatters; brilliant)! Again, a truly amazing read that will forever leave a mark on my heart.
I just finished my second read through of this book and I can definitively say that this is one of, (if not THE) most touching, inspiring and riveting novels I have ever read. The story is so well told; from the highest moments, to the heart achingly sad, all so well done. The characterizations and emotions of both Laurens and Hamilton are so well thought, and it’s clear that the author put in the research work. I myself have studied history and know how difficult it is to find accurate, unbiased biography’s on these figures (esp. when it comes to the possibility of a homosexual relationship) and yet everything written felt so authentic. Personally, I desperately wish is for this to possibly become a movie one day, as I can see it play out so cinematically in my head! (Spoiler: specifically that scene where John throws the letters at the mirror and it shatters; brilliant)! Again, a truly amazing read that will forever leave a mark on my heart.
October 14, 2021
I really loved this book! I got really attached to the all “characters”, not just Hamilton and Laurens, which I thought was great because sometimes in books the author doesn’t give us a reason or enough time to care for the “characters” before getting into the story (putting characters in quotes because they were real people but I don’t know what else to call them). It was interesting pretty much all the way through.
June 1, 2023
I'm-
So I finally finished this yesterday at like 2 am. I might've been sitting on the floor in my bathroom. I might've been crying.
This book is amazing. I read the "George Washington's Indispensable Men" before this, but I knew what would happen anyways. I still loved this so much. It was written beautifully - from the romance to the battle scenes. I became so attached to the characters - not just Alexander and John - but all the aides as well. Meade owns my heart.
Also, this book was incredibly well-researched. I can't tell you how good it felt, because nowadays authors hardly research for historical fiction anymore.
My only issue with this book was the grammar (I'm an English major and a freelance text-editor, I can't help it), which admittedly, got better past the first 200 pages.
Anyways, I'm no Hamilton, I can't write down all that this book put me through down eloquently, but I did love it and I do recommend it.
So I finally finished this yesterday at like 2 am. I might've been sitting on the floor in my bathroom. I might've been crying.
This book is amazing. I read the "George Washington's Indispensable Men" before this, but I knew what would happen anyways. I still loved this so much. It was written beautifully - from the romance to the battle scenes. I became so attached to the characters - not just Alexander and John - but all the aides as well. Meade owns my heart.
Also, this book was incredibly well-researched. I can't tell you how good it felt, because nowadays authors hardly research for historical fiction anymore.
My only issue with this book was the grammar (I'm an English major and a freelance text-editor, I can't help it), which admittedly, got better past the first 200 pages.
Anyways, I'm no Hamilton, I can't write down all that this book put me through down eloquently, but I did love it and I do recommend it.
August 19, 2021
I loved every moment of this even when it felt like a dagger was being put through my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2023
Wow, that ending was truly beautifully written. This book has made me feel so many different emotions, but that ending brought tears to my eyes. That ending paragraph was beautifully bittersweet and amazingly thought out, With the use of ‘Yours affectionate’ at the end (that being Laurens’ way of signing off his letters.) Hamilton’s way with words is amazingly portrayed, as well as each and every historical figure in this book being portrayed with raw emotions which captures a reader, making them want to read on. I adore how the author has portrayed Laurens, perfectly capturing his rash actions and occasional short temper, as well as Hamilton who’s ‘character’ develops remarkably as the chapters go on. I must say thank you to the author for writing such a beautiful book and giving recognition to such events that have been forgotten within our generation and the passing of time.
May 2, 2023
I’m going to be totally honest.
I took so long because I started reading it while I was in a very complicated school semester. Sometimes I didn’t even got time to read at all.
At first I connected with the book almost immediately. Their descriptions were just as I imagined them.
I hadn’t had a lot of context of the other aides while I was reading it, but with time I loved most of them, and it was painful to watch them go.
The characters felt so human that it was impossible not to relate to one of them or both, just as well as the secondary characters.
I love how complicated and complex the relationship between Laurens and Hamilton was. In some chapters I found myself crying out of frustration.
Anyhow it is an amazing book.
Actually I read this book after rereading The Song Of Achilles, so it had everything I was looking for.
The epilogue destroyed me. It is one of the saddest I’d ever read.
The only thing is that the chapters were very long, the only other reason that I took so long to finish it
I took so long because I started reading it while I was in a very complicated school semester. Sometimes I didn’t even got time to read at all.
At first I connected with the book almost immediately. Their descriptions were just as I imagined them.
I hadn’t had a lot of context of the other aides while I was reading it, but with time I loved most of them, and it was painful to watch them go.
The characters felt so human that it was impossible not to relate to one of them or both, just as well as the secondary characters.
I love how complicated and complex the relationship between Laurens and Hamilton was. In some chapters I found myself crying out of frustration.
Anyhow it is an amazing book.
Actually I read this book after rereading The Song Of Achilles, so it had everything I was looking for.
The epilogue destroyed me. It is one of the saddest I’d ever read.
The only thing is that the chapters were very long, the only other reason that I took so long to finish it
October 13, 2021
Heartbreakingly beautiful
November 29, 2023
There are no words to describe the tragic beauty of this story lest you sit down and immerse yourself in the tale of these two men as I did. It took me one week to finish this book (fortunately, time off with COVID gave me time to do so) as it was near impossible to put away. The only reason I slept was because I wanted to be attentive enough to truly enjoy the expert craftsmanship of Rebecca Dupoint! Her way of writing is phenomenal- simple, clear and concise wording when it comes to the action, but it leaves no room for confusion, and is by no means a criticism. Since, when you reach the raw, tumultuous emotions between Laurens and Hamilton- your own heart rate speeds up. The dangers, the passion, the pure love, the highlighting of the ‘grey’ realities of the 18th Century American world (that can still be related to our word today)- it renders me speechless after the epilogue. A perfect blend between romance and the political narrative: always finding an accurate way to tie it back to Laurens and Hamilton. I knew the story of these two men before reading this, and if you are the same as me then, trust me, the prior knowledge is like an impending weight which adds an entire new atmosphere to their love. I can tell a colossal amount of research went into telling the story of these two incredible men. This story is the definition of immersive, heart wrenching- and yet so fulfilling. Given the power, I would have this book produced for cinema screens.
November 19, 2024
Uma dose diária de fanfic
Depois de uma ressaca ENORME desde outubro de 2023 eu finalmente consegui terminar um livro esse ano.
Essa leitura foi mais uma fanfic publicada do que um livro. Por mais intrigante que tenha sido a leitura e a compreensão dos eventos históricos e a pesquisa dê autore para nos adaptarmos à ambientação, não foi completamente imersiva. Foi como baixar um epub do ao3, jogar no kindle e avaliar.
No entanto, é impossível não elogiar o trabalho e todo o tempo dê autore para fazer esse livro. A pesquisa histórica, militar, suas interpretações próprias do que foi feito na época da revolução americana e tudo que se seguiu. Baseando-se nas cartas, nos jornais, nos livros e biografias de grandes figuras da época.
Foi uma leitura agradável de um casal que cresceu no coração de muitos que viram o musical de Hamilton e se apaixonaram pela versão histórica dos dois. O final, no entanto, foi rápido e impessoal. Acredito que o que menos gostei de toda a leitura. Mas, num geral, foi um livro que me deixou satisfeita sobre a história dos dois.
Depois de uma ressaca ENORME desde outubro de 2023 eu finalmente consegui terminar um livro esse ano.
Essa leitura foi mais uma fanfic publicada do que um livro. Por mais intrigante que tenha sido a leitura e a compreensão dos eventos históricos e a pesquisa dê autore para nos adaptarmos à ambientação, não foi completamente imersiva. Foi como baixar um epub do ao3, jogar no kindle e avaliar.
No entanto, é impossível não elogiar o trabalho e todo o tempo dê autore para fazer esse livro. A pesquisa histórica, militar, suas interpretações próprias do que foi feito na época da revolução americana e tudo que se seguiu. Baseando-se nas cartas, nos jornais, nos livros e biografias de grandes figuras da época.
Foi uma leitura agradável de um casal que cresceu no coração de muitos que viram o musical de Hamilton e se apaixonaram pela versão histórica dos dois. O final, no entanto, foi rápido e impessoal. Acredito que o que menos gostei de toda a leitura. Mas, num geral, foi um livro que me deixou satisfeita sobre a história dos dois.
December 13, 2023
I read Duty & Inclination in September and was really blown away by it. The book made me feel a lot of things. I found myself wholly unable to put it down and was sad when I finished it, on top of shedding literal tears due to the ending.
I never expected to find myself so invested in a story about US founding fathers, as the American Revolution has never been an interest of mine, but the way Rebecca writes the love between Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens is both captivating and beautiful, even when difficult.
I love so much that Rebecca wrote these two very real historical figures as wholly accepting of loving each other, and that despite the sad ending, we get to see a real loving relationship filled with realistic difficulties and trials set upon them by their stations and the time period in which they lived.
If you love historical fiction with queer romance, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a copy. I still think about this book often.
I never expected to find myself so invested in a story about US founding fathers, as the American Revolution has never been an interest of mine, but the way Rebecca writes the love between Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens is both captivating and beautiful, even when difficult.
I love so much that Rebecca wrote these two very real historical figures as wholly accepting of loving each other, and that despite the sad ending, we get to see a real loving relationship filled with realistic difficulties and trials set upon them by their stations and the time period in which they lived.
If you love historical fiction with queer romance, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a copy. I still think about this book often.
March 30, 2023
I love this book.it is well written and thoroughly researched. A story the keep you reading more.
November 23, 2025
No book has ever made me cry as hard as this one. Just thinking about that epilogue makes me tear up (seriously I love sad things but I cried throughout like half the book)
April 25, 2024
i’ll js kms
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews