Winner of the boston globehorn book award for nonfiction winner of the yalsaala award for excellence in young adult nonfiction. George washington had given him his fullest trust and placed him in command of the fortifications at west point, new york. May be one of the greatest whatif books of the agea volume that turns. Arnold s treachery was only one of the many trials, tribulations, and disappointments washington overcame during the. Yet through much of historian nathaniel philbricks new book, valiant ambition. In philbricks latest, the man whose name is synonomous with traitor gets a much. 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. Author brad meltzer explains his deep obsession with. Why benedict arnold turned traitor against the american. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution by nathaniel philbrick penguin publishing group. 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. Two centuries after benedict arnold s death, the most infamous man in american history remains a twodimensional caricature in the minds of most americans. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution the american revolution. The name benedict arnold is synonymous with traitor in american history.
Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. Benedict arnold is best known for his vicious turn against the american revolution. 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. Nathaniel philbricks benedict arnold book valiant ambition. Valiant ambition tells of benedict arnolds turn from hero to. Despite his treason, arnold was a heroand palmer reminds us of just how vital benedict arnold s contributions were to the fledgling republic. The traitors wife by allison pataki, the notorious benedict arnold. 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. As a boy he did crazy things like climbing atop a burning roof and picking a fight with the town constable.
Alexander hamilton, benedict arnold and a forgotten publius. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution the american revolution series philbrick, nathaniel published by viking, 2016. In september 1776, the vulnerable continental army under an unsure george washington evacuated new york. A bit too much detail in the military history, since the subject of the book is benedict arnold. Today is the birthday 1741, according to the gregorian calendar o. The object, no bigger than a deck of cards, was found during the mans autopsy.
Nathaniel philbricks valiant ambition the new york times. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. He was obsessed with being the leader and the hero in every battle, and he never wanted to surrender. But he is not fully seen until late, when he had become disgruntled, disappointed, demoted, maimed, bitter, mercenary and full of grudges. 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.
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. 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. By 1774, he served as a captain in the new haven militia. The revolutionary war, writes philbrick in his new book valiant ambition. 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. The top history books of 2016 history smithsonian magazine. Nprs steve inskeep talks with national book award winner nathaniel philbrick about his new book, valiant ambition. What are some of the best reads on benedict arnold. In the first contemporary biography of benedict arnold, prizewinni. An early supporter of the revolution, he proved to be a resourceful and energetic officer. Theres a world of new ideas in every books newsletter. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american.
Alexander hamilton, benedict arnold and a forgotten. Benedict arnold is a name like judas or iago, synonymous with treason and evil incarnate. In the second book of his acclaimed american revolution series, nathaniel philbrick turns to the tragic relationship between george washington and benedict arnold. In the middle of all this was benedict arnold, a war hero who earned. 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. 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, valiant ambition. Patriot and traitor by willard sterne randall is a comprehensive and rich biography. Winner of the boston globehorn book award for nonfiction.
The central theme of his latest tome is that the most formidable threat to american liberties came not. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the. 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. Philbrick is a bestselling author whose book in the heart of the sea won the national book award for nonfiction.
George washington, benedict arnold and the fate of the american revolution. Valiant ambition offers a more nuanced history of benedict arnold. The notorious benidict arnold timeline created by arnoldlhs. Numerous books now portray his lovely young wife peggy as equally evil, an eve enticing her husband to betray his country. As a young man, arnold settled in new haven and established himself as a merchantsea captain in the west indies and canadian trades. 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. The notorious benidict arnold timeline timetoast timelines. I wrestle with the idea of benedict arnold every time i read any book regarding the american. Benedict arnold 17411801 was an early american hero of the revolutionary war 177583 who later became one of the most infamous traitors in u. 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. Nathaniel philbrick on his new book, valiant ambition wsj.
Benedict arnold, 17411801, american revolutionary general and traitor, b. It digs into the social, religious, philosophical, political and military issues that relate to the american. 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. Valiant ambition george washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution book. In his book, the author asserts that benedict arnold, one of washingtons most trusted.
List of books and articles about benedict arnold online. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. Nathaniel philbricks valiant ambition revisits benedict. Why benedict arnold turned traitor against the american revolution the story behind the most famous betrayal in u. Most people are only familiar with the traitor arnold rather then the hero 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.
A history of the revolutionary war offers a complex portrait of benedict arnold. Benedict arnold born benedict arnold the sixth is born to benedict arnold the fiffth and hannah in conneticut. His name is a synonym for betrayal, for total faithlessness. 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 resulting ambiguities may be best captured by the book. 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.
Benedict arnold archives journal 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. There are two benedict arnolds of the american revolution. It was about a man being found dead with benedict arnold s bible in his chest.
90 657 497 184 571 1053 853 1522 1377 1032 1468 485 528 63 505 953 1076 512 658 1117 1472 73 214 837 908 119 850 959 434 642 580 1014 736 761 1061 598 1470 933 1371 111 1249 992 1299 736 576 1000 696 389 70