technicat reviewed Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick
more like Benedict Arnold, Season One
4 stars
This is a pretty fascinating read, especially as despite the inordinate amount of so-called American History taught in school I didn't know anything about Benedict Arnold (aside from wondering whether eggs benedict was named after him, and no). It does end suddenly, after, and I hope this is not a spoiler, Arnold was found to be a traitor, the heretofore flailing democracy rallied at his assholery (why isn't this happening now?), and, another spoiler, the last 180 pages are images, bibliographic notes, the actual notes, and the index, and a teaser of Benedict Arnold Season Two where he fights on the British side (I went to wikipedia to see what happens next). In the meantime, the author paints a picture of Arnold's ambition, talent, greed, and narcisstic personality (he would have been a great tech ceo) and the marked contrast to George Washington, plus a colorful supporting cast, including self-interested β¦
This is a pretty fascinating read, especially as despite the inordinate amount of so-called American History taught in school I didn't know anything about Benedict Arnold (aside from wondering whether eggs benedict was named after him, and no). It does end suddenly, after, and I hope this is not a spoiler, Arnold was found to be a traitor, the heretofore flailing democracy rallied at his assholery (why isn't this happening now?), and, another spoiler, the last 180 pages are images, bibliographic notes, the actual notes, and the index, and a teaser of Benedict Arnold Season Two where he fights on the British side (I went to wikipedia to see what happens next). In the meantime, the author paints a picture of Arnold's ambition, talent, greed, and narcisstic personality (he would have been a great tech ceo) and the marked contrast to George Washington, plus a colorful supporting cast, including self-interested politicians, an ungrateful public, long-suffering soldiers, ambitious generals, and Arnold's apparently really hot wife. Really, wish they taught this in school.
