Dec 05, 2018 two centuries after benedict arnolds death, the most infamous man in american history remains a twodimensional caricature in the minds of most americans. Peggy in turn felt attracted to this man who was twice her age. Benedict arnold, who fled to the protection of british military authorities after his. Benedict arnold isnt a name thats popular among patriotic americans, but pataki delivers an admirable book focused on the betrayal. Before he was a traitor, benedict arnold was a true american hero. She met arnold during his tenure as military commander of the city following. Before reading this book, i hadnt known how tragic his end turned out to be. Benedict arnolds wife gets a novel the examiner news. Arnolds burial, in the crypt beneath st marys church in battersea, would have remained an unremarkable bit of trivia if not for the late bill stanley, a former connecticut state senator and founder, with his wife, of the norwich historical society. Jan 10, 2003 the university of houston professor, whose book is currently being turned into a documentary called benedict arnold. Two days later, when arnold heard of andres arrest, he fled to the vulture, a british warship on the hudson river. Everyone knows benedict arnold the revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the british as history s most notorious turncoat. Miniature engraving of benedict arnold a miniature of benedict ar nold appears in the 1931 book by j.
It is an interesting idea that benedict arnold, the traitor of the american revolution so famous that his name became a common noun for. We have certainly heard of benedict arnold but it was fun meeting his very cunning wife. Benedict arnold goodreads meet your next favorite book. He wondered why arnold, his best battlefield commander, wasnt there. Wife of american traitor general benedict arnold peggy margaret shippen was born on july 11, 1760, to one of the most prominent families in philadelphia, which included two philadelphia mayors and the founder of shippensburg, pennsylvania.
Benedict arnold is born in norwich, connecticut to prosperous benedict iv and his wife hannah. Benedict had met and married his wife when he was the american military governor of the city of philadelphia, another important position he had held in service to his country. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution the american revolution series book cover may vary book 2. Washington believed benedict arnolds treason had unhinged his wife. His victory early, on the great lakes probably prevented an early collapse of the colonial side and bought badly needed time for the rebels. John duncan, a director at the museum, thought the talk was great. Few authors have taken on americas revolutionary war so convincingly, and this story of benedict arnold s wife will appeal to lovers of historical fiction everywhere. For lessons to accompany this video series, check out our teachers resource manual. Casemate publishers, 2019 on one level, the fascination with john andre is perverse.
Few authors have taken on americas revolutionary war so convincingly, and this story of benedict arnolds wife will appeal to lovers of historical fiction everywhere. Referring to patakis work, he suggested it looks as though arnolds wife s spirit has been captured. Taylor which identified the actual burial place of arnold and his wife. Originally published in 1880, the book was rereleased in july 2019 by hva press in warwick after being unavailable for more than 100 years. They used benedict s wife peggy to pass letters written in code and invisible ink. Everyone knows benedict arnold the revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the britishas historys most notorious turncoat. Treacherous beauty goodreads meet your next favorite book.
Jul, 2018 in a brief historiography, malcolm points to jared sparkss 1835 biography, the life and treason of benedict arnold, as setting the tone for this wholesale blackening of arnolds. Margaret peggy shippen july 11, 1760 august 24, 1804 was the highestpaid spy in the american revolution, and was the second wife of general benedict arnold. Born in norwich, he grew up the son of a drunken father and povertystricken mother, apprenticing down the street at the lathrop apothecary. The real benedict arnold is a great book that explains what arnold s reasons for switching sides were. A true story of adventure, heroism and treachery, written by steven sheinkin and published in 2010, is a biography for young readers about one of americas notable war heroes who was also her most famous traitor benedict arnold. In 1780, arnold became the commander of the fort at west point. This encounter at the trail, which is located in putnam county and is the path that benedict arnold used to flee, led her to write an historical fiction book, which is called the traitors wife. Benedict arnold could have gone down in american history as one of its greatest heroes. He risked his life for his country and was instrumental in the early success of the american revolution. While trading in the west indies, arnold is shocked and outraged. Heres how benedict arnold got caught realclearhistory. The book centers on peggy shippen arnold, who was born. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of.
A miniature of benedict arnold appears in the 1931 book by j. He and his wife were granted sanctuary in rhode island by governor benedict arnold, the traitors greatgrandfather. First the lover of the notorious british spy john andre, and then the wife of celebrated american generalturnedtraitor benedict arnold, peggy and her story are. She convinced washington, and for many years historians, that she knew nothing of benedict arnolds treason. Margaret peggy shippen july 11, 1760 august 24, 1804 was the second wife of general benedict arnold. But benedict arnold, once a continental army hero, was not running away from british forces. Her feigned madness gave her husband more time to escape. As he was getting ready for dinner, alexander hamilton brought him the news. That same day, he wrote this letter to washington, begging help for his wife, the young and beautiful margaret peggy shippen arnold 17601804. The untold story of two revolutionaryera women and the radical men they married hardcover by. Jul 17, 2019 in his book, the life of benedict arnold. After reading this book, you will understand why benedict turned, and will mabey even have a little compassion for him.
Numerous books now portray his lovely young wife peggy as equally evil, an eve enticing her husband to betray his country. Two centuries after benedict arnolds death the most infamous man in american history remains a twodimensional caricature in the minds of most americans. Letter, benedict arnold to george washington pleading for mercy for. Peggy shippen, the woman behind benedict arnolds plot to betray america hardcover. He fought with distinction for the american continental army, rising to the rank of major general, before defecting to the british side of the conflict in 1780.
Her mother margaret was the daughter of prominent lawyer tench francis and her father edward shippen iv was a judge, who tried to remain neutral during. Margaret peggy shippen july 11, 1760 august 24, 1804 was the highestpaid spy in the american revolution, and was the second wife of general benedict arnold shippen was born into a prominent philadelphia family with loyalist tendencies. Benedict arnold 17411801 benedict arnold is a name that nearly every american knows, though not in any positive way. Excerpted from the george washington book prize finalist the tragedy of benedict arnold. Socialite peggy shippen is half benedict arnolds age when she seduces the war hero during his stint as military commander of philadelphia. Benedict arnold biography life, family, children, wife. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason. George washington called him, the bravest of the brave. The woman behind benedict arnold and the plan to betray america. Two days later, when arnold heard of andre s arrest, he fled to the vulture, a british warship on the hudson river. His death left peggy to deal with a bad name and many debts. The couple resettled in philadelphia on a twomiledeep riverfront estate.
Finishing becca, a historical novel based on the life of peggy shippen and benedict arnold. Numerous books have cast his young wife peggy as equally evil, an eve tempting her husband into treason. Reed saw it as arnold playing up to the very loyalist types he wanted to punish. The traitors wife by allison pataki, paperback barnes. He had at one point planned to attend yale college, but after the deaths of his siblings, his father took up drinking and the family fortunes declined. Instead, he gave up everything, even his wife, who was left behind when he fled on a ship to britain. The traitors wife, the debut novel by journalist allison pataki. Everyone knows benedict arnold the infamous revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the british as historys most notorious turncoat. Arnold recounts the downhill fight of his infamous ancestor. Arnold, now living in new haven, opens a shop offering medicines, books and sundries. American general, argues that arnold already had his motivation for treason. The book clearly lays to rest any notion that peggy shippen arnold was an innocent bystander to her husbands treason.
The university of houston professor, whose book is currently being turned into a documentary called benedict arnold. His mother had been a prosperous widow before marrying arnold s father, a merchant. He was one of only two of his mothers eleven children to survive into adulthood. May 16, 2016 nprs steve inskeep talks with national book award winner nathaniel philbrick about his new book, valiant ambition. They were married in the shippen townhouse on fourth street on april 8, 1779, and arnold began conspiring with the british to change sides soon after. The tragedy of benedict arnold by joyce lee malcolm. Valiant ambition tells of benedict arnolds turn from hero. Peggy shippen, wife of the infamous traitor benedict arnold, conspired with her husband to undermine the american colonists fight for independence from great britain. Benedict arnold met peggy and fell in love with her arnold lost his first wife to an early death back in 1775.
This book is an important addition to my personal study of the life of benedict arnold. Benedict arnolds treason unmasked to washingtonin arnolds. Arnold had vanished moments before washington rode up to the sprawling mansion along the hudson river. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious characters from our nations past. Allison pataki quickly disproves the notion that american history tends to be dry in her new novel, the traitors wife, a fastpaced tale about infamous traitor benedict arnold thats loaded with sex, spies and scandal.
On june 14, 1801, benedict arnold died at the age of 60, being infamously remembered as a traitor and a spy. The traitors wife a riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason. The son of a raging alcoholic, benedict arnold was a reckless hothead. Arnold passed the british all sorts of important information including the locations of supply depots, troop movements, and the number of troops. Taylor which identified the actual burial place of arnold and his wife the miniature appears in the frontispiece of the book and is described as being from a miniature engraving worn by his wife the miniature is in the form of a medallion and has the words general arnold. Benedict arnolds treason unmasked to washingtonin arnold. Letter, benedict arnold to george washington pleading for. Peggy shippen, the woman behind benedict arnolds plot to betray america. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind america s most infamous act of treason. A traitor in london, the burial location of benedict arnold. He made a name for himself as a military leader, but then he became a traitor to the continental army, and basically what was behind it was a woman he married into a tory family and for money the british offered him the equivalent of one million dollars in todays money to flip sides.
He was, after all, a relatively minor figure of the revolution whose combat experience was limited to the 1775 siege of fort saintjean st. Beside this, what happened to benedict arnold s wife. Michelle moran, international bestselling author of madame tussaud. The curious london legacy of benedict arnold history. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution. An american life, by janet lee malcolm pegasus books thomas hart published an engraving of benedict arnold in 1776 after he led american troops through the wilderness to canada and heroically stormed quebec, which appears in the background. His name became an epithet for traitor in the united states. Unfortunately for connecticut, benedict arnold 17411801 is one of our own. Peggy shippen arnold put on quite a show for him, thrashing, crying and raving deliriously. Nov 12, 2019 malcolm law, george mason univ peters war reopens the case against american military general benedict arnold 17401801 and his wife, peggy shippen 17601804, suggesting that history has perhaps been too hard on the traitorous pair. Shippen later became speaker of the pennsylvania assembly and the second mayor of philadelphia. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act.
Jul 07, 2020 peggy shippen, wife of the infamous traitor benedict arnold, conspired with her husband to undermine the american colonists fight for independence from great britain. He was fearless in battle and a beloved leader of men. Stanleys passion for protecting the legacy of benedict arnolds. If you read one book this year, make it allison patakis the traitors wife.
Shippen was born into a prominent philadelphia family with loyalist tendencies. Peggy shippen arnold died of cancer on august 24, 1804, in england. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious. This excellent book is also the story of a starcrossed love affair beyond anything that a playwright could imagine. Treacherous beauty fills an important gap in american history with its indepth narrative of the treason of benedict arnold and his beautiful young wife, peggy. Malcolm law, george mason univ peters war reopens the case against american military general benedict arnold 17401801 and his wife, peggy shippen 17601804, suggesting that history has perhaps been too hard on the traitorous pair. I have read in other books on benedict arnold that many military historians consider him the best general of both sides of that conflict. George washington learned about benedict arnolds treason while staying at benedict arnolds house near west point. Traitors wife movie on benedict arnolds spouse in the works.
Nancy rubin stuart goodreads author shelved 1 time as benedictarnold avg rating 3. Yet, it was the influence of she and her family that he switched sides. The notorious benedict arnold summary and study guide. How this startling reversal came about is traced in the book, which is rigorously researched yet presented in the manner of. The traitors wife by allison pataki, the notorious benedict arnold. The untold story of two revolutionaryera women and the radical men they married, boston. Feb 05, 2021 benedict arnold, patriot officer who served the cause of the american revolution until 1779, when he shifted his allegiance to the british. For lessons to accompany this video series, check out our teacher s resource manual. Benedict arnold was an american revolutionary war general best known for his defection from the continental army to the british side of the conflict in 1780. He also sails frequently to the west indies and canada, buying and selling trade goods.
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