The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. His mother had been a prosperous widow before marrying arnold s father, a merchant. Everyone knows benedict arnoldthe revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to. The notorious benedict arnold gives motivation to analyze information and is also useful when criticizing plots. Instead, the generals wife, peggy shippen arnold, carried the key to her husbands betrayal. Sep 14, 2016 radar pictures has acquired the feature film and television rights to allison patakis novel the traitors wife. Benedict arnold, who fled to the protection of british military authorities. He began the war in the continental army but later changed to the british army. 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. May, 2016 the title of nathaniel philbricks valiant ambition says everything about it, because it says nothing. 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. Lehigh cemetery, lehighs corners, leeds and grenville united counties, ontario i believe this cemetery is located on line rd 9, southwest of rt 29 in kitley township, ontario benedict arnolds last will and testament records the following.
Thereafter his name became an epithet for traitor in the united states upon the outbreak of hostilities at lexington, massachusetts april 1775, arnold. The revolutionary war, writes philbrick in his new book valiant ambition. Ronald opens with several chapters on the young mans french huguenot family. Excerpted from the george washington book prize finalist the tragedy of benedict arnold.
Peggy shippen arnold, the women behind benedict s treason, well paid by the british as a spy, peggy shippen, or margaret shippen, was the second wife of general benedict arnold one of his alleged partners in his military conspiracy. A nonfiction book study will bring the american revolution to life for your students. Arnold passed the british all sorts of important information including the locations of supply depots, troop movements, and the number of troops. If you read one book this year, make it allison patakis the traitors wife. 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.
Peggy shippen arnold died of cancer on august 24, 1804, in england. He conducted business throughout the caribbean and. Margaret peggy shippen was born margaret shippen on july 11, 1760, to one of the most prominent families in philadelphia, pennsylvania. A young ladys maid is witness to benedict arnold and his wifes treachery in this fictional account set during the american war for independence. George washington had given him his fullest trust and placed him in command of the fortifications at west point, new york.
Greatgrandson of a rhode island governor, benedict arnold was born in norwich, connecticut, on 14 january 1741. Benedict arnold and his wife did conspire to commit treason with john andre. Nathaniel philbricks benedict arnold book valiant ambition. Peggy shippen, the woman behind benedict arnolds plot. The woman behind benedict arnold and the plan to betray america. John sage arnold grave historical sites related to the. General in the continental and british armies, traitor. Jan 10, 2003 the university of houston professor, whose book is currently being turned into a documentary called benedict arnold. A bit too much detail in the military history, since the subject of the book is benedict arnold. Peggy shippen arnold was born in philadelphia in 1760. 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.
Jan 01, 2014 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. 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. Isaac arnold also draws a portrait of benedict arnolds wife, peggy shippen, who played a critical role in her husbands treachery. When turncoat benedict arnold aided the british during the revolutionary war, he wasnt acting alone. Find out about peggy shippen arnold, the wife of traitor benedict arnold, who helped him betray americans fighting for liberty, at biography. Shippen was born into a prominent philadelphia family with loyalist tendencies. Benedict arnold simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sheinkins account of arnolds life has received high acclaim, having won the 2012 young adult library services association award for excellence in nonfiction and. Nathaniel philbricks valiant ambition the new york times. Peggy shippen, the woman behind benedict arnolds plot to betray america case, stephen, jacob, mark on. Jul 21, 2015 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Margaret peggy shippen july 11, 1760 august 24, 1804 was the second wife of general benedict arnold. A vivid and timely reexamination of one of young americas most complicated figures. They used benedicts wife peggy to pass letters written in code and invisible ink. She writes in the books supplemental reading, it wasnt long into my. Published february 11th 2014 by howard books first published january 1st. The marriage brought him the social status he craved, but not. 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. Traitors wife movie on benedict arnolds spouse in the works. After gaining respect as an american patriot all that went under the bridge after shifting his allegiance to the british. George washington, benedict arnold and the fate of the american.
This book was truly an interesting historical perspective and added much to. Benedict arnold 17411801 was an early american hero of the revolutionary war 177583 who later became one of the most infamous traitors in u. While on the american side he became commander of the fort at west point, new york, and plotted to surrender it to the british forces. Historians have uncovered her role, one that her contemporaries did not. George washington, benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution, wasnt just a rebellion against great.
He was one of only two of his mothers eleven children to survive into adulthood. 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. Benedict arnold, and the fate of the american revolution. June 14, 1801london, england 2 american military general although he fought with skill and courage in many campaigns during the american revolution 3 177583, general benedict arnold 4 is best known as the man who betra. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Author allison pataki discusses the traitors wife youtube. 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. Everyone knows benedict arnoldthe revolutionary war general who. While commanding in philadelphia, arnold met and married peggy shippen, 20 years his junior, the daughter of a loyalist sympathizer. The traitors wife by allison pataki overdrive rakuten. Benedict arnold, born january 14, 1741, norwich, connecticut u. Benedict arnold, the american general during the revolutionary war who.
Nov 22, 2019 benedict arnolds love for his wife, peggy shippen, led him to change allegiances in the middle of the revolutionary war. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious characters from our nations past. Feb 11, 2014 a young ladys maid is witness to benedict arnold and his wifes treachery in this fictional account set during the american war for independence. Jul 01, 2019 find out about peggy shippen arnold, the wife of traitor benedict arnold, who helped him betray americans fighting for liberty, at. Benedict arnold was a successful trader and merchant in new haven, connecticut. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious. His name is a synonym for betrayal, for total faithlessness. Benedict was born the second of six children to benedict arnold iii 16831761 and hannah waterman king in norwich, connecticut, on january 14, 1741. The traitors wife promises to tell the story of peggy shippen, the wife of infamous traitor benedict arnold. Michelle moran, international bestselling author of madame tussaud. Peggy shippen, the woman behind benedict arnolds plot to betray america. Jul, 2018 the tragedy of benedict arnold benefits from russell leas collection of arnolds war correspondence, published in 2008, and a relatively recent discovery of a cache of primary sources. Everyone knows benedict arnold the revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the britishas historys most notorious turncoat. While the book is exceptionally wellwritten and full of.
The university of houston professor, whose book is currently being turned into a documentary called benedict arnold. The resulting ambiguities may be best captured by the books sotto voce. Benedict arnold biography life, family, children, wife. American general, argues that arnold already had his motivation for treason. Peggy shippen arnold, the women behind benedicts treason, well paid by the british as a spy, peggy shippen, or margaret shippen, was the second wife of general benedict arnold one of his alleged partners in his military conspiracy. Then on april 20, 1639 in providence he succeded roger williams in 1644 as president of the colony becoming governor under the charter granted by king charles ii. They used benedict s wife peggy to pass letters written in code and invisible ink. The author shows us the complete manarnolds boyhood and military success, the betrayal, and his last years in england. He was named after his greatgrandfather benedict arnold, an early governor of the colony of rhode island, and his brother benedict iv, who died in infancy. Peggy came of age during the american revolution, in which she eventually played a significant role. I hardly knew anything about peggy arnold and was intrigued about reading about. The title of nathaniel philbricks valiant ambition says everything about it, because it says nothing. The tragedy of benedict arnold benefits from russell leas collection of arnolds war correspondence, published in 2008, and a relatively recent discovery of a cache of primary sources. Benedict arnolds love for his wife, peggy shippen, led him to change allegiances in the middle of the revolutionary war.
Peggy shippen was so much more that the wife of the famous traitorshe. The traitors wife a riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind. The woman behind benedict arnold and the plan to betray america, variety. In 1780, arnold became the commander of the fort at west point. This is the first novel from pataki, daughter of former new york state governor george e. She met arnold during his tenure as military commander of the city following. After the plot was exposed in september 1780, he was.
Genealogy profile for benedict arnold benedict arnold 1756 1829 genealogy genealogy for benedict arnold 1756 1829 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. 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. He had to abandon his education after his father, an alcoholic merchant, went bankrupt. Radar pictures has acquired the feature film and television rights to allison patakis novel the traitors wife. Benedict arnold simple english wikipedia, the free.
John andre to suggest it as a place to conceal plans regarding arnold s surrender of the strategically located garrison to the british. This book puts his turn from glorious heroism into the context of its. Although he fought with skill and courage in many campaigns during the american revolution 177583, general benedict arnold is best known as the man who betrayed his country. However, she did lay to rest assertions about his young wife being aware of his duplicity.
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. Her mother was margaret shippen, who was the daughter of the prominent lawyer, tench francis, and her father was edward shippen iv, who was the grandson of the first mayor in philadelphia and the founder of princeton university. Mar 26, 2014 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. She gained notoriety for being the highestpaid spy in the american revolution. The notorious benedict arnold is the winner of the 2011 boston globe horn book award for nonfiction. Willard sterne randall, however, notes that benedict arnold did not plot treachery alone. With todays concern for gender equality, perhaps it is time to remember a woman as americas greatest traitor. Benedict arnold biography, life, interesting facts. Benedict arnolds wife gets a novel the examiner news. School children are taught about the treacherous actions of benedict so that it seems that he is a one dimensional character who is almost nonhuman. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason everyone knows benedict arnoldthe infamous revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the british as historys most notorious turncoat.
Life and treason of benedict arnold by jared sparks. Benedict arnold, who with his father, william first upon arriving in new england june 25, 1635, settled in higham, mass. This excellent book is also the story of a starcrossed love affair beyond anything that a playwright could imagine. Mar 20, 2020 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. Everyone knows benedict arnoldthe revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the britishas historys most notorious turncoat.
I give, devise and bequeath to john sage, now in canada, living with my sons there being about 14 years of age twelve hundred acres of land, being part. When benedict arnold aided the british during the revolutionary war, he wasnt acting alone orchestrating the infamous. Treacherous beauty and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. 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. Benedict arnold is best known for his vicious turn against the american revolution. Benedict arnold was the war general who is majorly remembered for his defection to the british side from the continental army in 1780. We have certainly heard of benedict arnold but it was fun meeting his very cunning wife.
Benedict arnold was born on january 14, 1741, in norwich, connecticut. Over the next several years, arnold married a second time and he and his wife led a. During the american revolution, she and her husband, benedict arnold, became traitors to the american colonists, sharing with the british. Benedict arnold seated, commander of west point, pointing to the boot of british maj. I hardly knew anything about peggy arnold and was intrigued about reading about what the wife of such an infamous man was like. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason.
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