The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery

This book was clearly written with the aim of rehabilitating, to some extent at least, the image and reputation of Benedict Arnold, a man whose name has been synonymous with treason for over 200 years. This is certainly a noble effort. Just as no hero is without his bad points and deeds, no villain is without his good ones. Understanding the whole person in the context of his historical, socio-economic and personal circumstances helps to flesh out the larger-than-life figures and make them human, and thereby helps to make history itself something human and, therefore, comprehensible.Sheinkin has succeeded admirably in humanizing Benedict Arnold, delving through mountains of historical documents and other evidence to piece together a portrait of Arnold as a man, rather than the caricature we read about in history books. At the same time, he has done so in a lively, engrossing way, sure to capture the hearts and minds of readers old and young, especially boys and especially those inclined to think history is "boring". Sheinkin's subtitle, "A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery" is no embellishment. You will probably find yourself flipping through the pages of this book as avidly as you would a well-written novel. But this is no novel - this falls clearly in the category of "you can't make this stuff up."As well researched and as well written as the book is, however, I have to fault Sheinkin at least a little for failing to fully and honestly see the portrait he has painted of Benedict Arnold. Sheinkin is clearly obsessed by, almost enamored with, the historical figure of Benedict Arnold (he admits as much in his Source Notes) and it's almost like he can't bear to face the worst about Arnold. It's not that he omits or whitewashes any data that would tarnish Arnold - indeed, Sheinkin's portrayal is unflinching. It's more that he doesn't want to fully see the conclusion that he himself has come to.Sheinkin views Arnold as a historical figure who has largely been wronged by history. His final act of treachery erased all the heroic acts that went before - acts which, Sheinkin argues, rescued the American Revolution from dying a premature death. History has also overlooked the jealousies, backbiting and political intrigues which smeared Arnold's reputation, paved the path for his betrayal, and provide Arnold's motivation and mindset for the same. But time after time it seems Sheinkin overlooks (or, rather, excuses) Arnold's own contributions to his predicaments - his pugnacious personality, his utter lack of patience, his brazenness, his lack of diplomacy and social skills, and his lack of ownership of the consequences of his own rash actions. These traits combined to enable Arnold to pull of the brash, heroic deeds he did, but they don't necessarily make him a man worthy of admiration.Arnold's determined, pugnacious personality probably developed early in life when he was pulled from school due to lack of money caused by his father's drinking, after which he spend a number of years hauling his father out of seedy taverns. We also know that Arnold was involved in a number of duels in his young life, suggesting that he was always impulsive and hot-headed. One of Arnold's first military victories involved the taking of Fort Ticonderoga, but his biggest adversary was actually a man who should have been an ally - Ethan Allen, leader of the Green Mountain Boys. Both had the same objective, but they were at loggerheads because Arnold insisted he had the only real authority (from the State of Massachusetts) to take the Fort, and he wasn't about to share power. (In all fairness, Ethan Allen probably also wasn't too keen on a joint command).The next several years of Arnold's life show a brazen string of military gambits (all at least partially successful, some wildly so), coupled with an inability to get along with fellow military leaders and superiors, as well as Congress. Arnold took huge gambles, risked - and lost - a lot of men, and earned some decisive battles, including ones big enough to convince France to risk fortune and forces on this unlikeliest of ventures. But because of his uncanny ability to alienate people, Arnold was rarely given adequate credit for his role. He was passed over and delayed for promotion several times, leaving him junior to officers with less military credit to their names. There were also rumors and accusations about him engaging in less than honorable behavior, such as the accusations that he stole provisions from Montreal (which Arnold insisted he was going to pay for).All of which make Arnold a sympathetic figure, and it's certainly understandable that he would get indignant and righteously angry. But Arnold developed a bitter, devil-may-care attitude and began acting in ways that gave truth to the lies and impugned his own character. After Arnold was wounded in battle, General Washington, in one of the most spectacular errors in judgment in history, made Arnold the military governor of Philadelphia, newly recovered from the British and full of loyalist and neutral families. This position should have required great tact - not one of Arnold's strengths. Arnold began living the high life, selecting for himself the best mansion and commandeering the best carriage. He lived far beyond the means of what his salary should have accommodated and he made some questionable merchandising deals. His attitude was that he was entitled to it all for the sacrifices he'd made on behalf of his country and the lack of recognitions he'd received therefor.It's soon after this point, while Arnold is just beginning to plot his betrayal, that Sheinkin seems to come to the central core of Arnold's character:"How could he be so self-righteous? After all, he had been guilty of devious dealings in Philadelphia. And he was at that moment plotting to betray his country! But therein lies the key to understanding Arnold: he didn't feel guilty. He was always able to convince himself that what he was doing was right."Now, I'm not qualified to diagnose Benedict Arnold across two hundred years of history, and certainly not based on one book. But in modern times, we have a word for people who don't feel guilt, people who always feel like they are the victim, people who feel entitled to take for themselves with no thought of others: sociopath.Of course, Sheinkin is an historian, not a psychologist, so I wouldn't expect him to use the specific word "sociopath". But it seems like, having laid out all the data, Sheinkin ignores the conclusion, which conclusion gels the two halves of Arnold's personality - hero and villain - into an understandable whole. Men who lack guilt can be brilliant, aggressive, even audacious leaders and, so long as they are "winning", they can accomplish amazing things. But they lack many qualities which inspire personal loyalty or genuine admiration, and when events turn against them, they will seek to fill the void in fame and riches wherever it is most opportune. Given this interpretation, Arnold's protestations about doing it all for the good of the people, to end the war, comes across as hollow and false. I think history has rightfully recognized Benedict Arnold as a self-serving traitor, not as a hero forced by circumstances and belief into acts which merely seem traitorous in the eye of the beholder.As a side note, Sheinkin opens the book with an execution scene. The reader may be forgiven for assuming the condemned man is Benedict Arnold, since Sheinkin doesn't tell us otherwise. It is only later that we realize it is Major John Andre, the British officer with whom Arnold plotted to expose and surrender West Point. 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 captured by the Americans.Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book. It is a stirring and engaging account of a historical figure whom practically everyone knows by name, but few know by deed.

Good nonfiction for young adult readers is harder to come by than good fiction. Like cavalry over the hill, then, rides The Notorious Benedict Arnold, a book whose ending we know before we start -- but will the kids? I suppose it depends on the curriculum, when they get American history, and to what extent. But even for veterans like me, the book offers details either forgotten or never known.Benedict Arnold couldn't get out of his own personality's way. His father of the same name, a drunken disgrace, lit the fire of ambition and shame in his son at a young age. Conveniently enough, the Revolutionary War would provide the backdrop Benedict needed to show his mettle. And mettle he showed, at Saratoga and in Quebec, where he came this close to making Canada our 14th colony. During actions at Quebec and Saratoga, Arnold was dealt serious injuries from gunfire. And though he lost a lot of blood, he sadly did not lose his life, missing two golden opportunities to go down among the Giants of the Revolution like Lafayette, Von Steuben, Ethan Allen, and Washington. Instead, he would outlive his heroic chances and allow his sullen, jealous, angry temperament a chance to win notoriety for quite another reputation, one driven by money and relentless ambition.The lesser star (and fall guy) of the book is concurrent story of Major John André. He played spy to Arnold's traitor, and their tango ended badly for him. Author Sheinkin tells us that André was one of those singularly handsome men who charmed women and men alike with his personality and intelligence. Unfortunately, this intelligence would forsake him in a few key seconds that would seal his fate. After meeting Arnold behind enemy lines near West Point, he was fleeing south toward the British-held city of New York. Alas, he did not think through the actions he would take if he were stopped by Americans. He foolishly said he was British by assuming he was far enough south and already among Loyalists. In retrospect, this made no sense. Had he said he was American, the outcome would have worked to his advantage no matter what. That is, if his interceptors were Americans (which they were), they would have let him by with the handwritten pass he held from Arnold. And even if they were British, they would have seized him and taken him as a "prisoner" to General Clinton -- the very man who sent him out on the mission -- down in New York. At age 29, the dashing Major André had written the opening lines to his own final act.Some might say he was luckier than Arnold, who would survive and escape Washington's frantic attempts to capture and make an example of him. Arnold made a few forays wearing a redcoat -- burning New London, CT, for one -- but the war soon ended and he spent the remainder of his years in England and Canada with ignominy and Peggy Shippen as his mates. Even the side he defected to held him in low esteem after the war. Washington had offered André's life in exchange for Arnold's, but General. Clinton, as much as he loved André, could not pull the trigger on this tempting deal because of the unwritten rule: You never, but NEVER, turn over a turncoat.When all is said and done, you will learn a lot more about Benedict Arnold's character and personality, his military genius and derring do, and his innate ability to annoy superiors in the military (where, quite frankly, many men on both sides acted like middle school children in their endless bickering, resentments, intrigues, and calculated slander and libel of each other's character). You will enjoy some military strategizing, take in some battle-day narratives, and learn just how close the colonies came to losing this war. And yes, you will see the major role of irony and chance, and just how comfortable both of these things are in the fertile grounds of history. An awful lot of things had to go wrong for Benedict Arnold's plan to fail. Sheinkin shows just how lucky the Americans got with a series of wild coincidences on the fateful day the West Point trap was set to spring. He also provides the perfect coda for the book by describing a most curious monument made in Arnold's "honor" at Saratoga. Curious and symbolically appropriate, I'd say.Recommended for young readers in need of some bracing nonfiction, for a change.

Did not realize this book was for youngsters until I started reading it and thought, what simple language. But it was a good quick read that had some information unknown to me.

I love historical fiction, so a biography tends to be a chore to read... This book was the opposite! This might be the best bio I've ever read.. It was a story within a bio and it kept my attention the entire time. I couldn't wait to read it each day! Hoping this author has more books.. I'm all in...

i will add more to this later, as i dont have time right now.. i am very familiar with the life and times of B Arnold, and this book truly encapsulates his life his energy his tragedy.. im on page 188 and my only regret is that i will be done with this jewel very soon (up til 2 am last night reading !! couldnt put it down, even tho i KNOW the outcome of each 'adventure;

I appreciate this seller's prompt service and the product was in excellent condition, as indicated. Very happy to do business with you.