Play Book Tag discussion

The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery definitely qualifies for the espionage tag!

If you're into history, or biography, or adventure, or flawed heroes, you'll love this book. If you're not (like me) you just might love it anyway (as I did).

Sheinkin did a lot of research, as he notes in appendices. A good fair bit of material was available, so much of what he wrote up in this relatively short book is verifiable. I do think that he may have been biased to interpretations that not all historians would agree with. Arnold is definitely seen as a sympathetic figure, for example, and almost forgivable.

The author used a lot of direct quotes from primary sources, too, giving the story more of a sense of immediacy and the less-than-unfavorable light shone on Arnold more credibility. I found it to be an engrossing read and predict that many others will, too... not just the teen boys who will get encouraged by their teachers to read it. But they might be the ones most likely to empathize with the heroics and mis-judgements of this very colorful, strong, intelligent man.

Usually Sheinkin is straight-up. But sometimes he slips into the vernacular a bit. "Arnold was trying to restore his honor. He got a horse. Not quite the same thing."

My local library catalogued this into the adult shelves. Maybe a good strategy to help it find more readers of all ages. It does deserve to be widely read!

Our library shelves many y/a books in the adult stacks because they don't want to go to the children's room to get books. It makes it fun, though, if I find an interesting y/a book there when looking for something else.

I only know Benedict Arnold by the expression, nothing about his place in history. This sounds fascinating.

Sounds like a good one to recommend to my son. Thanks for the review.

Thanks for the info, Cheryl, I've added this one. I just read Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution, which compared and contrasted Arnold and Washington. Arnold was a fascinating and complex character, and I look forward to reading more about him.

This sounds interesting and am adding to my TBR. This also goes hand in hand with the Sunday Conversation Topic. There has been a change in the way Arnold is portrayed. More sympathetic.