In the middle of all this was benedict arnold, a war hero who earned. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution the american revolution series philbrick, nathaniel published by viking, 2016. Nathaniel philbricks benedict arnold book valiant ambition. I wrestle with the idea of benedict arnold every time i read any book regarding the american. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution. But he is not fully seen until late, when he had become disgruntled, disappointed, demoted, maimed, bitter, mercenary and full of grudges. A new york times bestseller winner of the george washington prize a surprising account of the middle years of the american revolution and the tragic relationship between george washington and benedict arnold, from the new york times bestselling author of in the heart of the sea, mayflower, and in the hurricanes eye.
Philbrick is a bestselling author whose book in the heart of the sea won the national book award for nonfiction. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. A new book looks at benedict arnold s heroics on lake champlain during the battle of valcour in 1776 that saved america from a british invasion that. The central theme of his latest tome is that the most formidable threat to american liberties came not. Power and negotiation in the orderly books of the continental army, william and mary quarterly 3rd ser.
Numerous books now portray his lovely young wife peggy as equally evil, an eve enticing her husband to betray his country. Why benedict arnold turned traitor against the american. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution the american revolution. George washington, benedict arnold and the fate of the american revolution. The premise surrounds the host of a conspiracy tv show whose daughter wakes up in a hospital with no memory. The revolutionary war, writes philbrick in his new book valiant ambition. The name benedict arnold is synonymous with traitor in american history. January 3, 1740, of benedict arnold, a general during the american revolutionary war, who fought for the american continental army, and later defected to the british army, making his name in the us a byword for turncoat or traitor. Why benedict arnold turned traitor against the american revolution the story behind the most famous betrayal in u. Nathaniel philbricks valiant ambition the new york times. Alexander hamilton, benedict arnold and a forgotten. As a boy he did crazy things like climbing atop a burning roof and picking a fight with the town constable.
A bit too much detail in the military history, since the subject of the book is benedict arnold. This book puts his turn from glorious heroism into the context of its. May be one of the greatest whatif books of the agea volume that turns. Benedict arnold, 17411801, american revolutionary general and traitor, b. Clear and insightful, valiant ambition consolidates philbricks reputation as one of americas foremost practitioners of narrative nonfiction. In the second book of his acclaimed american revolution series, nathaniel philbrick turns to the tragic relationship between george washington and benedict arnold.
Arnold s treachery was only one of the many trials, tribulations, and disappointments washington overcame during the. In the first contemporary biography of benedict arnold, prizewinni. By 1774, he served as a captain in the new haven militia. The resulting ambiguities may be best captured by the book. Benedict arnold 17411801 once lauded for heroism, norwichborn benedict arnold earned infamy as a traitor during the american revolutionary war by leaving libertys cause to side with the british. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution, explores four years of the revolutionary war, from 1776 through 1780, with a focus on george washington, benedict arnold, and the many lesser personalities that surrounded them, offering a new perspective on the people and events that.
In september 1776, the vulnerable continental army under an unsure george washington evacuated new york. It digs into the social, religious, philosophical, political and military issues that relate to the american. Yet through much of historian nathaniel philbricks new book, valiant ambition. List of books and articles about benedict arnold online. This is a book that goes beyond a simple life story and delves into multiple aspects of the time and place in which arnold lived. He was obsessed with being the leader and the hero in every battle, and he never wanted to surrender.
I think it was a bit of a cheap ploy to open the book this way, given that benedict arnold himself died of gout, asthma and heart failure at the ripe old age of 60, having never been. In philbricks latest, the man whose name is synonomous with traitor gets a much. Today is the birthday 1741, according to the gregorian calendar o. Benedict arnold is best known for his vicious turn against the american revolution. The seeds of benedict arnold s treason were probably sown in philadelphia, where he was forced to defend himself against courtmartial charges brought by the executive council of pennsylvania. The notorious benidict arnold timeline created by arnoldlhs. This particular book focuses on the hero arnold just look at the title of the book and does a fine job. Benedict arnold born benedict arnold the sixth is born to benedict arnold the fiffth and hannah in conneticut. Nathaniel philbricks valiant ambition is a suspenseful, vivid, richly detailed, and deeply researched book about the revolutionary struggle that bound george washington and benedict arnold together and about the almost disastrous dysfunction of americas revolutionary government. The notorious benedict arnold noah collins 4th period chapters the book opens to a grim scene of a crowded field, filled with angry and shocked people, surrounding the gallows and looking at the road ahead as a band marched in playing a funeral march. It was about a man being found dead with benedict arnold s bible in his chest. Benedict arnold archives journal of the american revolution. As a young man, arnold settled in new haven and established himself as a merchantsea captain in the west indies and canadian trades. Valiant ambition offers a more nuanced history of benedict arnold.
Valiant ambition tells of benedict arnolds turn from hero to. The object, no bigger than a deck of cards, was found during the mans autopsy. Nathaniel philbricks valiant ambition revisits benedict. A history of the revolutionary war offers a complex portrait of benedict arnold. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution, wasnt just a rebellion against great. As a youth he served for a time in the colonial militia in the french and indian wars. Valiant ambition tells of benedict arnold s turn from hero to traitor nprs steve inskeep talks with national book award winner nathaniel philbrick about his new book. The arnold in this book was a brave, stellar commander.
George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american. Winner of the boston globehorn book award for nonfiction winner of the yalsaala award for excellence in young adult nonfiction. There are two benedict arnolds of the american revolution. A surprising account of the middle years of the american revolution and the tragic relationship between george washington and benedict arnold, from the new. Brad meltzer, author of the new book the house of secrets, joined the glenn beck program on friday to discuss his obsession with benedict arnold and how he wove the infamous traitor into his latest novel.
George washington had given him his fullest trust and placed him in command of the fortifications at west point, new york. Two centuries after benedict arnold s death, the most infamous man in american history remains a twodimensional caricature in the minds of most americans. Winner of the boston globehorn book award for nonfiction. Nprs steve inskeep talks with national book award winner nathaniel philbrick about his new book, valiant ambition. Author brad meltzer explains his deep obsession with. Valiant ambition george washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution book. Though the outlines of benedict arnold s life have been known for years, he emerges in all his valor, military genius, bitterness, and deceitfulness in this superb biography by univ. Nathaniel philbrick on his new book, valiant ambition wsj.
George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the. Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. What are some of the best reads on benedict arnold. The national book awardwinning author of in the heart of the sea presents an account of the complicated middle years of the american revolution that shares lesserknown insights into the tragic relationship between george washington and benedict arnold,novelist. In his book, the author asserts that benedict arnold, one of washingtons most trusted. New york times bestselling author, newbery honor recipient, and national book award finalist steve sheinkin presents both the heroism and the treachery of one of the revolutionary wars most infamous players in his biography of benedict arnold. The traitors wife by allison pataki, the notorious benedict arnold.
While there is no excusing arnold s treachery and broken oath as an american officer, perhaps we have created such a despicable man that weve ignored what he actually did for the colonial cause. Most people are only familiar with the traitor arnold rather then the hero arnold. Benedict arnold is a name like judas or iago, synonymous with treason and evil incarnate. Patriot and traitor by willard sterne randall is a comprehensive and rich biography. His name is a synonym for betrayal, for total faithlessness. There is a 2016 book out by nathaniel philbrick, valiant ambition george washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution this might be a good source addition to the article. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution by nathaniel philbrick penguin publishing group. Wall street journal in the second book of his acclaimed american revolution series, nathaniel philbrick turns to the tragic relationship between george washington and benedict arnold. January 3, 1740 june 14, 1801 was an american military officer who served as a general during the american revolutionary war, fighting for the american continental army before defecting to the british in 1780. Benedict arnold 17411801 was an early american hero of the revolutionary war 177583 who later became one of the most infamous traitors in u. Despite his treason, arnold was a heroand palmer reminds us of just how vital benedict arnold s contributions were to the fledgling republic. Alexander hamilton, benedict arnold and a forgotten publius. The top history books of 2016 history smithsonian magazine. The notorious benidict arnold timeline timetoast timelines.