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In the summer of 1776, Washington's army in Brooklyn and New York City faced one of the largest invading forces ever assembled by the British Empire. After suffering a series of devastating defeats, Washington's vulnerable and dejected troops were forced to evacuate the southern tip of Manhattan Island. Three weeks later, however, near the Canadian border, one of his favorite and most talented generals accomplished a tactical miracle by stalling the British advance in a viciously fought naval battle on Lake Champlain. An American defeat would have effectively ended the war, and it was Benedict Arnold who saved his young country from ruin. Moving beyond the storied victories at Trenton and Princeton and the ordeal of the Continental army at Valley Forge, Philbrick shows how the injuries Arnold suffered at the Battle of Saratoga set Washington's greatest fighting general on the road to treason. Arnold was an impulsive but sympathetic hero whose misfortunes at the hands of self-serving politicians undermined his faith in the legitimacy of the rebellion. By 1780, he had fled to the enemy after his failed attempt to surrender the American fortress at West Point to the British. During the same period, Washington came to embrace the full scope of leadership. The book tracks the messy collision of military and political goals and shows how the deep divisions among the American people posed a greater threat to their cause than the British army. In a new country wary of tyrants, Washington's unmatched ability to rise above the petty politics of his time enabled him to recognize the war that really mattered. In his treason, Arnold may actually have saved America. By intertwining the stories of Washington and Arnold, Philbrick reveals the dark path America traveled during its revolution. This is a portrait of a people in crisis and the war that gave birth to a nation.… (more)
User reviews
Yes, Arnold fought for American independence, but it was for other than romanticized ideals. It was for what he could get; glory, fortune, power, or any combination of the three. While not exactly mercenary, Arnold was in the fight for what he could get. Between that and his inability to temper action with prudent politicking, he was basically his own worst enemy.
During the bulk of the war, the Army was fragmented, poorly structured, appallingly supplied and led by political appointees rather than by men who knew anything about battle, command or war. Washington eventually learned to navigate this awful situation and by no means were he or Arnold the only one slighted, maligned or outright plotted against, but they are two examples of the right and wrong ways to handle it.
Washington parried with patience and learned from his mistakes, Arnold with harping and doing things the same way over and over. He’s the classic soldier who can execute really well, but who won’t listen to command. His triumphs were all in the face of counter-orders or outright disobedience. He just couldn’t rein it in and eventually drove everyone nuts by his constant recital of his derring-do, his sacrifice of body and fortune to the cause and the fact that no one gave him any respect. Winning ways for sure.
Although the wind up and the pitch is good, the result of the play is lacking. What happened after Arnold’s plan went awry and the British spy was hanged? (oh yeah, a spoiler alert needed there, right?) There’s a little sketch about some battles and his moving to England after the war, but not enough. I understand from previous reading that while Arnold helped the British cause, he wasn’t accepted because a traitor is a traitor. I also wanted to understand how effective he was as a British soldier versus when he was an American soldier. Were the Brits able to control him better? To use him effectively? I think I need another book.… (more)
As expected, it is also well written and can be assimilated and understood by most. Usually, there is little time spent on the motivations of turncoats, but this book rectifies that in the case of Arnold. Obviously, I consider it a very worthwhile read, and do not hesitate to recommend it.
The audio is narrated by Scott Brick, who is well known for his excellent narrations.… (more)
From the battle of Long Island, through Fort Ticonderoga, the crossing of the Delaware River and the battle of Trenton, to the final treason by Benedict Arnold, this is a glorious recounting of the birth of a nation.
Washington and Arnold are the main protagonists though many other familiar names pop up on both the American and British sides. Mr. Philbrick tells how Washington learned and grew as a general; his first battles were not especially distinguished. On the other hand, Arnold was celebrated, credited with various victories culminating in the battle of Saratoga. Arnold was also volatile and brash, thin-skinned and greedy. He spent a lot of his own money for his country but complained when he was repaid for his efforts. The two men respected each other but didn't really seem to understand each other.
The burning of Danbury, Connecticut and the burning of Ridgefield was a small section but of special interest to me as I was born there. I knew quite a bit about that history but I was surprised that Arnold fought in the battle. I remember General Wooster better as the commander of the American forces and Sybil Ludington's ride.
Mr. Philbrick always writes well. He relates history in an engaging manner. His research is impeccable; I especially enjoyed the pieces of the story of Joseph Plumb Martin, a soldier who left a diary after the war.
Fingers crossed that he will continue the next part of the history of the American Revolution, the war in the South.… (more)
One very positive aspect of the book was the frequent and appropriately placed maps. I'm not much into specifics of battles, but these maps did a great job of offering visuals to go along with the text; something many books lack. This helped me better understand the routes the British and American troops took, the terrain, and general geography.
I was a bit surprised at how the book ended. I didn't necessarily expect it to cover Yorktown and the end of the war since Arnold wasn't a part of that. But Philbrick doesn't give any information as to what happened to Arnold after the war. I believe he and Peggy moved to England, but what then? I would have liked a biographical wrap-up of him and her at least.… (more)
I agree with the author that it is the enemy within not the outside nation that we need to be careful of. My sympathy lies with George Washington, I keep thinking while I read this book, did he ever despair of his dream? There was so much to contend with, massive troops, soldiers who wanted to go home, mother nature at her worst, lack of food, lack of money, lack of people to trust. Arnold gave into greed instead of putting country first.
I encourage everyone to read this book for what it was really like during the American Revolution.
What impressed me the most from reading this well researched and documented book about Benedict Arnold was how close the United States came to not coming to into being. The author, Nathaniel Philbrick writes with much insight and detail. I feel that I have a good picture of what Benedict Arnold was like physically, in character and know his deepest motivations. The author put the facts together to develop this instead of starting from out national feeling against this person.
I agree with the author that it is the enemy within not the outside nation that we need to be careful of. My sympathy lies with George Washington, I keep thinking while I read this book, did he ever despair of his dream? There was so much to contend with, massive troops, soldiers who wanted to go home, mother nature at her worst, lack of food, lack of money, lack of people to trust. Arnold gave into greed instead of putting country first.
I encourage everyone to read this book for what it was really like during the American Revolution.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the Publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way made a difference in my thoughts or feelings in this review.… (more)
But there is more to this story. How George Washington was more a symbol of leadership during the war than an actual military leader, and the deep sectional divides as the war dragged on.
Philbrick makes the case that the American public had grown tired of the war and would have failed or given in if not for Arnold's attempted betrayal. That galvanized the public, and the war reached a new phase.
This treatment pulls in more characters and events, and closes with Arnold's defection and the war continuing. The ending felt to me like the set up for Episode 2.
I'll read it.
I received this book for review.
For more of my reviews, go to Ralphsbooks.… (more)