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The Resource Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution, Nathaniel Philbrick

Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution, Nathaniel Philbrick

Creator
Author
Summary
From the acclaimed author of Mayflower, In the Heart of the Sea, and Bunker Hill comes an engrossing new book about the American Revolution. Its focus: the relationship between Benedict Arnold and George Washington, and the four years that led to the notorious fall of one and the gradual emergence of the other as a true leader. In the summer of 1776, Washington's army in Brooklyn and New York City faced one of the largest invading forces ever assembled by the British Empire. After suffering a series of devastating defeats, Washington's vulnerable and dejected troops were forced to evacuate the southern tip of Manhattan Island. Three weeks later, however, near the Canadian border, one of his favorite and most talented generals accomplished a tactical miracle by stalling the British advance in a viciously fought naval battle on Lake Champlain. An American defeat would have effectively ended the war, and it was Benedict Arnold who saved his young country from ruin. Nathaniel Philbrick brings his mastery of narrative to a tumultuous time in the Revolution. Moving beyond the storied victories at Trenton and Princeton and the ordeal of the Continental army at Valley Forge, he shows how the injuries Arnold suffered at the Battle of Saratoga set Washington's greatest fighting general on the road to treason. Arnold was an impulsive but sympathetic hero whose misfortunes at the hands of self-serving politicians undermined his faith in the legitimacy of the rebellion. By 1780, he had fled to the enemy after his failed attempt to surrender the American fortress at West Point to the British. During the same period, Washington came to embrace the full scope of leadership. The book tracks the messy collision of military and political goals and shows how the deep divisions among the American people posed a greater threat to their cause than the British army. In a new country wary of tyrants, Washington's unmatched ability to rise above the petty politics of his time enabled him to recognize the war that really mattered. In his treason, Arnold may actually have saved America. Valiant Ambition crackles with urgency and human drama fueled by issues of loyalty and integrity. By intertwining the stories of Washington and Arnold, Philbrick has crafted a Shakespearean tragedy revealing the dark path America traveled during its revolution. This is a portrait of a people in crisis and the war that gave birth to a nation. -- Inside jacket flaps
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xix, 427 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates
Contents
  • Preface: The fault line
  • Part I: The wilderness of untried things. Demons of fear and disorder ; The mosquito fleet ; A cabinet of fortitude ; The year of the hangman ; The dark eagle ; Saratoga
  • Part II: Secret motives and designs. The bite of a rattlesnake ; The knight of the burning mountain ; Unmerciful fangs ; The chasm ; The pangs of a dying man ; The crash ; No time for remorse
  • Epilogue: A nation of traitors
Isbn
9780525426783
Instance
Label
Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution
Title
Valiant ambition
Title remainder
George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution
Statement of responsibility
Nathaniel Philbrick
Title variation
George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution
Creator
Author
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
From the acclaimed author of Mayflower, In the Heart of the Sea, and Bunker Hill comes an engrossing new book about the American Revolution. Its focus: the relationship between Benedict Arnold and George Washington, and the four years that led to the notorious fall of one and the gradual emergence of the other as a true leader. In the summer of 1776, Washington's army in Brooklyn and New York City faced one of the largest invading forces ever assembled by the British Empire. After suffering a series of devastating defeats, Washington's vulnerable and dejected troops were forced to evacuate the southern tip of Manhattan Island. Three weeks later, however, near the Canadian border, one of his favorite and most talented generals accomplished a tactical miracle by stalling the British advance in a viciously fought naval battle on Lake Champlain. An American defeat would have effectively ended the war, and it was Benedict Arnold who saved his young country from ruin. Nathaniel Philbrick brings his mastery of narrative to a tumultuous time in the Revolution. Moving beyond the storied victories at Trenton and Princeton and the ordeal of the Continental army at Valley Forge, he shows how the injuries Arnold suffered at the Battle of Saratoga set Washington's greatest fighting general on the road to treason. Arnold was an impulsive but sympathetic hero whose misfortunes at the hands of self-serving politicians undermined his faith in the legitimacy of the rebellion. By 1780, he had fled to the enemy after his failed attempt to surrender the American fortress at West Point to the British. During the same period, Washington came to embrace the full scope of leadership. The book tracks the messy collision of military and political goals and shows how the deep divisions among the American people posed a greater threat to their cause than the British army. In a new country wary of tyrants, Washington's unmatched ability to rise above the petty politics of his time enabled him to recognize the war that really mattered. In his treason, Arnold may actually have saved America. Valiant Ambition crackles with urgency and human drama fueled by issues of loyalty and integrity. By intertwining the stories of Washington and Arnold, Philbrick has crafted a Shakespearean tragedy revealing the dark path America traveled during its revolution. This is a portrait of a people in crisis and the war that gave birth to a nation. -- Inside jacket flaps
Biography type
collective biography
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Philbrick, Nathaniel
Dewey number
  • 973.3/82092
  • B
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • maps
  • portraits
  • plates
Index
index present
LC call number
E206
LC item number
.P48 2016b
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Washington, George
  • Arnold, Benedict
  • United States
  • United States
  • Generals
  • Traitors
  • Arnold, Benedict
  • Washington, George
  • Washington, George
  • Arnold, Benedict
  • United States
  • American Revolution (1775-1783)
  • United States
  • BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
  • HISTORY
  • HISTORY
  • Traitors
  • Generals
  • United States
  • United States
  • Generals
Label
Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution, Nathaniel Philbrick
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 375-403) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Preface: The fault line -- Part I: The wilderness of untried things. Demons of fear and disorder ; The mosquito fleet ; A cabinet of fortitude ; The year of the hangman ; The dark eagle ; Saratoga -- Part II: Secret motives and designs. The bite of a rattlesnake ; The knight of the burning mountain ; Unmerciful fangs ; The chasm ; The pangs of a dying man ; The crash ; No time for remorse -- Epilogue: A nation of traitors
Control code
933729300
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
xix, 427 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates
Isbn
9780525426783
Lccn
2016303785
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations, maps, portraits
Specific material designation
regular print
System control number
(OCoLC)933729300
Label
Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution, Nathaniel Philbrick
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 375-403) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Preface: The fault line -- Part I: The wilderness of untried things. Demons of fear and disorder ; The mosquito fleet ; A cabinet of fortitude ; The year of the hangman ; The dark eagle ; Saratoga -- Part II: Secret motives and designs. The bite of a rattlesnake ; The knight of the burning mountain ; Unmerciful fangs ; The chasm ; The pangs of a dying man ; The crash ; No time for remorse -- Epilogue: A nation of traitors
Control code
933729300
Dimensions
24 cm
Extent
xix, 427 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates
Isbn
9780525426783
Lccn
2016303785
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations, maps, portraits
Specific material designation
regular print
System control number
(OCoLC)933729300

Subject

Genre

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