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. Benedict arnolds love for his wife, peggy shippen, led him to change allegiances in the middle of the revolutionary war. She met arnold during his tenure as military commander of the city following the british withdrawal in 1778. The mansfields lived near arnolds house on water street in new haven. Benedict arnold, born january 14, 1741, norwich, connecticut u. Benedict arnold and the crisis of american liberty by stephen brumwell yale university press, 2018 buy this book from amazon. Peggy shippen arnold was born in philadelphia in 1760. George washington had given him his fullest trust and placed him in command of the fortifications at west point, new york. The traitors wife by allison pataki, paperback barnes. A young ladys maid is witness to benedict arnold and his wifes treachery in this fictional account set during the american war for independence. Radar pictures has acquired the feature film and television rights to allison patakis novel the traitors wife.
He was one of only two of his mothers eleven children to survive into adulthood. Stephen h case reveals the true story of peggy shippen, benedict arnolds wife and socialite who used her connections within both american and british society to help her husband, benedict arnold, and friend, john. Includes discussion questionssocialite peggy shippen is half benedict arnolds age when she seduces the war hero during his stint as military commander of philadelphia. Eighteenyearold peggy shippen, the favorite youngest daughter of a philadelphia judge, has golden curls, a pretty face, a. He was born and raised in the town of ilchester, somerset, england, likely attending school in limington nearby. 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. 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. The author shows us the complete manarnolds boyhood and military success, the betrayal, and his last years in england. The traitors wife, by allison pataki allison pataki employs an engaging, light style for her debut novel, which reveals the role benedict arnolds wife played in his treason during the american revolution. Eventually the british left philadelphia for new york, and american general benedict arnold was appointed as the citys military governor. If you have read a single book that disputes arnolds reputation and traditional place in history, maybe you should check the sources that author relies on and, more importantly, look into the official records of the times, any trial transcripts and arnolds.
Benedict arnold 21 december 1615 19 june 1678 was president and then governor of the colony of rhode island and providence plantations, serving for a total of 11 years in these roles. Margaret peggy shippen july 11, 1760 august 24, 1804 was the second wife of general benedict arnold. One of the useful parts of this book is that it illustrates that our american revolution. 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. I consider this to be the debut of a major writer of historical fiction. This is a fascinating book one that im recommending to teachers as a companion to my own middle grade historical novel spitfire, which tells the story of two young people who were with benedict arnolds fleet on lake champlain in the fall of 1776. Peggy shippen, the woman behind benedict arnold s plot to betray america. Treason in the us and what we get wrong on benedict.
Peggy shippen arnold died of cancer on august 24, 1804, in england. The university of houston professor, whose book is currently being turned into a documentary called benedict arnold. 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. Two centuries after benedict arnolds death the most infamous man in american history remains a twodimensional caricature in the minds of most americans. American general, argues that arnold already had his motivation for treason. Referring to patakis work, he suggested it looks as though arnolds wifes spirit has been captured. The traitors wife tells the story of benedicts much younger wife and her servant, clara, who becomes an unwilling witness to peggys conniving. In 1635 at age 19, he accompanied his parents, siblings, and other family members on a voyage. This book is an important addition to my personal study of the life of benedict arnold. The traitors wife allison pataki, 2014 howard books 496 pp. 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.
Illustration showing major general benedict arnold 1741 1801 rallying the american troops and performing heroically during the battle of saratoga, during. During the american revolution, she and her husband, benedict arnold, became traitors to the american colonists, sharing with the. Before their marriage, benedict arnold had career problems. What are some of the best reads on benedict arnold.
I hardly knew anything about peggy arnold and was intrigued about reading about what the wife of such an infamous man was like. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious characters from our nations past. Traitors wife movie on benedict arnolds spouse in the. He married margaret, daughter of samuel and esther hall mansfield, when she was 17. Peggy heard benedict arnolds name frequently in the next few years as the revolution turned to war and its leaders put on uniforms and fanned out to fight the british. A book for more informoation is called, finishing becca by ann. Isaac arnold also draws a portrait of benedict arnolds wife, peggy shippen, who played a critical role in her husbands treachery. Peggy shippen, the woman behind benedict arnolds plot to betray america. Kirkus 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. His mother came from a wealthy family, but his father squandered their estate. For a century after his death in 1801, benedict arnold was portrayed as a judas who betrayed his. Though he was twenty years older, arnold soon fell in love with peggy.
John duncan, a director at the museum, thought the talk was great. Everyone knows benedict arnoldthe revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the britishas historys most notorious turncoat. When most people consider the role that women played in the american revolution, they probably turn right to women like abigail adams or molly pitcher, who both supported the revolution. We have certainly heard of benedict arnold but it was fun meeting his very cunning wife. Benedict arnolds early life benedict arnold was born on january 14, 1741, in norwich, connecticut. Michelle moran, international bestselling author of madame tussaud. With dozens of excerpts from the actual letters and memorandum of george washington. Thereafter his name became an epithet for traitor in the united states upon the outbreak of hostilities at lexington, massachusetts april 1775, arnold. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious. As she would throughout her life with arnold, peggy remained true to her word. Benedict arnold was born on january 14, 1741, in norwich, connecticut. His mother had been a prosperous widow before marrying arnolds father, a merchant. This book makes a serious case that arnolds treason my well have been peggys idea all along.
Benedict arnold isnt a name thats popular among patriotic americans, but pataki delivers an admirable book focused on the betrayal. Find out about peggy shippen arnold, the wife of traitor benedict arnold, who helped him betray americans fighting for liberty, at. Blinded by his young brides beauty and wit, arnold does not realize that she harbors a secret. The latest reevaluation is also the most sympathetic. She gained notoriety for being the highestpaid spy in the american revolution shippen was born into a prominent philadelphia family with loyalist tendencies. Born january 14, 1741 norwich, connecticut died june 14, 1801 london, england. Jonathan kruk, a cold spring storyteller who has been telling arnolds tale, is excited about the book coming out. Peggys role in the conspiracy in the 19th century, after all of the principals had died, aaron burr biographer james parton published an account implying that peggy shippen arnold had manipulated or convinced benedict to change sides. Numerous books have cast his young wife peggy as equally evil, an eve tempting her husband into treason. This excellent book is also the story of a starcrossed love affair beyond anything that a playwright could imagine. The traitors wife is a gripping novel steeped in compelling historical detail. The traitors wife is the story of clara, a maid to peggy shippen, who becomes peggy arnold, wife of benedict arnold, quite possibly the united states greatest traitor.
The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new. If you read one book this year, make it allison patakis the traitors wife. George pataki, got the idea for the book, set during the revolutionary war, from the history she learned growing up in. 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. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason, the traitors wife is told from the perspective of peggys maid, whose faith in the new nation inspires her to intervene in her mistresss affairs even when it could cost her everything. Benedict arnold biography life, family, children, wife.
Benedict arnold occupies a place in american history as the most famous traitor of revolutionary times. This is the first novel from pataki, daughter of former new york state governor george e. Peggy shippen, the woman behind benedict arnold s plot to betray america case, stephen, jacob, mark on. The book clearly lays to rest any notion that peggy shippen arnold was an innocent bystander to her husbands treason. Benedict was born in norwich, ct and came to new haven when he was 21. I hardly knew anything about peggy arnold and was intrigued about reading about. Before marriage, when enemies in philadelphia were plotting benedict arnolds ruin, she stood by him.
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