The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold: An American Life

Malcolm (law, George Mason Univ.; Peter's War) reopens the case against American military general Benedict Arnold (1740–1801) and his wife, Peggy Shippen (1760–1804), suggesting that history has perhaps been too hard on the traitorous pair. Malcolm makes it clear that this book does not condone Arnold's actions during the Revolutionary War but rather attempts to place them within a broader historical context in order to understand his decisions, not attack them. In doing so, Malcolm presents a compelling case that Arnold was a man of his time and that Shippen was innocent, despite her characterization as a manipulative woman who tricked her husband into betraying his country. The author's research also reveals the deep divide inside the revolutionary cause itself and its impact on Arnold throughout his early life and career. Malcolm's research is rooted in the historiography of Arnold but is not derivative. Instead, this work acknowledges and builds on more than a century of writings on the subject, bringing a fresh perspective by making use of resources only recently discovered (Arnold's war correspondence, namely).