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Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution (The American Revolution Series) Book Cover May Vary Paperback – May 9, 2017

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A New York Times Bestseller
Winner of the George Washington Prize

A surprising account of the middle years of the American Revolution and the tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold, f
rom the New York Times bestselling author of In The Heart of the Sea, Mayflower, and In the Hurricane's Eye.

"May be one of the greatest what-if books of the age—a volume that turns one of America’s best-known narratives on its head.”
—Boston Globe

"Clear and insightful, [Valiant Ambition] consolidates Philbrick's reputation as one of America's foremost practitioners of narrative nonfiction."Wall Street Journal

In the second book of his acclaimed American Revolution series, Nathaniel Philbrick turns to the tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold. In September 1776, the vulnerable Continental army under an unsure George Washington evacuated New York after a devastating defeat by the British army. Three weeks later, one of his favorite generals, Benedict Arnold, miraculously succeeded in postponing the British naval advance down Lake Champlain that might have lost the war. As this book ends, four years later Washington has vanquished his demons, and Arnold has fled to the enemy. America was forced at last to realize that the real threat to its liberties might not come from without but from withinComplex, controversial, and dramatic, Valiant Ambition is a portrait of a people in crisis and the war that gave birth to a nation.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"May be one of the greatest what-if books of the age—a volume that turns one of America’s best-known narratives on its head.”
—Boston Globe

“A suspenseful, richly detailed, and deeply researched book about the revolutionary struggle that bound George Washington and Benedict Arnold together and almost disastrous dysfunction of America’s revolutionary government that helped drive them apart.”
The New York Review of Books

"Clear and insightful, it consolidates his reputation as one of America's foremost practitioners of narrative nonfiction."
—Wall Street Journal

"Philbrick is both a meticulous historian and a captivating storyteller. The book has unforgettable novelistic details [and] also contains much astute historical analysis and argument. Philbrick sees Arnold not as the man who almost lost the war so much as the catalyst that helped to win it."
—Christian Science Monitor

“This is history at its most compelling: political machinations, military jostling and outright treachery. And Philbrick’s vivid writing brings the whistling cannon balls and half-frozen soldiers to life (and death) in vivid detail….He peels back the mythology to reveal a teetering war effort, a bickering Congress, discordant states unwilling to coalesce to support the new national government and — above all — a traitor who sought to sell out his own country for personal gain and achieved instead the one thing that no other revolutionary could: a unification of the Americans and an end to the war. And for that, we have much to thank Benedict Arnold."
Seattle Times
 
"Benedict Arnold takes center stage in Nathaniel Philbrick’s vivid and in some ways cautionary tale of the Revolutionary War. The near-tragic nature of the drama hinges not on any military secrets Arnold gave to the British but on an open secret: the weakness of the patriot cause….Arnold’s betrayal still makes for great drama, proving once again that the supposed villains of a story are usually the most interesting."
New York Times Book Review

“Philbrick wants his readers to experience the terror, the suffering and the adrenaline rush of battle, and he wants us to grit our teeth at our early politicians who, by their pettiness and shortsightedness, shape military events as profoundly as generals and admirals do. Finally, he reveals the emotional and physical cost of war on colonial society. He succeeds on all fronts.”
Washington Post

“Philbrick has the ability to take seemingly dry facts of history and turn them into exciting prose. The players come alive and their motivations are clear. The people he chronicles are legends, so revealing to the reader what makes them human, foibles and all, helps make sense of the events that transpired and why they acted the way they did.”
—Associated Press

"Philbrick's deep scholarship, nuanced analysis, and novelistic storytelling add up to another triumph."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A lively account of our Revolutions’ most reviled figure.”
Kirkus Reviews

"An engrossing narrative of the war’s most difficult years... Philbrick argues that the quarrelsome, divided Americans needed Arnold’s perfidy as much as they did Washington’s greatness to unify their new nation. He pushes aside the patriotic myth to unveil the war’s messy reality—and it’s still a rousing adventure.”
—BookPage

“As another American summer crawls toward the Fourth of July, and with a presidential election creeping up like Freddy on Elm Street, Nathaniel Philbrick offers some beach reading to remind us that outsized egos and a dysfunctional Congress were as much at issue in 1776 as they are now — if that’s any comfort...Valiant Ambition colorfully reconstructs the character-driven battles that defined the Revolutionary War.”
—USA Today

 
“Look, you’re not getting tickets to Hamilton. If he were alive, George Washington himself couldn’t get tickets to Hamilton. Here’s a cheaper alternative…a new look at the first American president and contrasts him with our most famous traitor.”

—The Miami Herald


Praise for Bunker Hill

"A masterpiece of narrative and perspective."
Boston Globe

"A tour de force . . ."
Chicago Tribune

"Popular history at its best—a taut narrative with a novelist's touch, grounded in careful research."
Miami Herald

"A story that resonates with leadership lessons for all times."
—Walter Isaacson, The Washington Post

"A gripping book."
The Wall Street Journal

About the Author

Nathaniel Philbrick is the author of In the Heart of the Sea, winner of the National Book Award; Mayflower, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; Bunker Hill, winner of the New England Book Award; Sea of Glory; The Last Stand; Why Read Moby Dick?; and Away Off Shore. He lives in Nantucket.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reprint edition (May 9, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143110195
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143110194
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.43 x 0.98 x 8.36 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,132 ratings

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Nathaniel Philbrick
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Nathaniel Philbrick

Life at a Glance

Born

1956 in Boston, Mass.

Educated

Linden Elementary School and Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh, Pa.; BA in English from Brown University in Providence, RI, and an MA in America Literature from Duke University in Durham, NC

Sailing

Philbrick was Brown's first Intercollegiate All-American sailor in 1978; that year he won the Sunfish North Americans in Barrington, RI; today he and his wife Melissa sail their Beetle Cat Clio and their Tiffany Jane 34 Marie-J in the waters surrounding Nantucket Island.

Married

Melissa Douthart Philbrick, who is an attorney on Nantucket. They have two children: Jennie, 23, and Ethan 20.

Career

After grad school, Philbrick worked for four years at Sailing World magazine; was a freelancer for a number of years, during which time he wrote/edited several sailing books, including Yaahting: A Parody (1984), for which he was the editor-in-chief; during this time he was also the primary caregiver for his two children. After moving to Nantucket in 1986, he became interested in the history of the island and wrote Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People. He was offered the opportunity to start the Egan Maritime Foundation in 1995, and in 2000 he published In the Heart of the Sea, followed by Sea of Glory, in 2003, and Mayflower, due in May 2006.

Awards and Honors

In the Heart of the Sea won the National Book Award for nonfiction; Revenge of the Whale won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; Sea of Glory won the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize and the Albion-Monroe Award from the National Maritime Historical Society. Philbrick has also received the Byrne Waterman Award from the Kendall Whaling Museum, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for distinguished service from the USS Constitution Museum, the Nathaniel Bowditch Award from the American Merchant Marine Museum, and the William Bradford Award from the Pilgrim Society.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,132 global ratings

Review this product

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the detailed research and character development. The book provides a human perspective on history and helps readers understand it better.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

227 customers mention "Readability"227 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the complex story told in an easy-to-follow manner. The book provides a balanced and unbiased account of events.

"...All in all I think the author provided a well balanced and unbiased description of events...." Read more

""Valiant Ambition" is well-written and pleasant to read. The historiography is good...." Read more

"...And if you are, you will want to read this book. Philbrick is a fine writer, and he does his usual skillful job of making history exciting, without..." Read more

"...It appears to be well researched; it's extensively end-noted and it appears that he used a lot of primary source material including correspondence..." Read more

179 customers mention "History"179 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating. They say it gives a human face to history and puts into perspective the Revolutionary War. Readers appreciate the accurate historical record and attention to detail. The story of Arnold's descent into treason is well told, and the author's previous works are fascinating for their attention to detail.

"This is an honest and interesting treatment of the American Revolution from the perspective of its most famous person, George Washington, and it's..." Read more

""Valiant Ambition" is well-written and pleasant to read. The historiography is good...." Read more

"...is a fine writer, and he does his usual skillful job of making history exciting, without sacrificing accuracy or injecting hyperbole...." Read more

"...'s military accomplishments, political activity, and personal business activities are detailed, showing how the actions of the Continental Congress..." Read more

80 customers mention "Readable"62 positive18 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the concise history and perceptive review that helps readers understand. The level of detail provided via personal letters is praised as incredible, and the reader is never confused.

""Valiant Ambition" is well-written and pleasant to read. The historiography is good...." Read more

"Very well written and researched history of early years in our nation’s history!" Read more

"The author's style is admirable. The reader is never confused...." Read more

"...Nope, no explanation the book literally leaves off with Arnold being pursued by the Americans and I guess its just on the reader to go to Wikipedia..." Read more

77 customers mention "Research quality"77 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's research quality. They find it well-researched, detailed, and scholarly. The book provides a cogent explanation of how the war was fought and won. Readers appreciate the breadth of knowledge and depth of research.

"...Besides a complete biography of Washington, the book covers all the military battles fought throughout the 13 colonies and Canada...." Read more

"...usual skillful job of making history exciting, without sacrificing accuracy or injecting hyperbole...." Read more

"...It truly is a book that I found hard to put down. It appears to be well researched; it's extensively end-noted and it appears that he used a lot of..." Read more

"...Regardless, this excellent book adds contrasting perspectives on Arnold's treason and Washington's travails during the Revolutionary War...." Read more

43 customers mention "Character development"40 positive3 negative

Customers find the book provides an in-depth analysis of the characters and motivations. They say it brings out the real people from their mythical cocoon. The author does a good job of describing Arnold and the events leading to his committing. It provides insight into our greatest leaders and conflicted motives by many patriots.

"...the main characters of the Spy Ring, it includes a good portrayal of George Washington and Benedict Arnold and takes on the whole affair of Arnold's..." Read more

"...In the end, an interesting story of two warriors who were valorous and ambitious...." Read more

"...They present the men as human beings, with many strengths and weaknesses, not as easily understood and criticized role players moving to their..." Read more

"...This book does an excellent job of presenting these men as they were at the time of the events presented...." Read more

31 customers mention "Pacing"26 positive5 negative

Customers find the book's pacing good. They describe Benedict Arnold as a fearless general and courageous leader in battles. The book portrays him as a brilliant military strategist but flawed character. It helps readers understand his motivations and actions during the American Revolution.

"...The details provide more understanding for his betrayal, although not exculpation, since financial gain was the primary motivation for his ultimate..." Read more

"...It explores why Benedict Arnold committed treason and in doing so explores the personalities of Arnold and George Washington and how they developed..." Read more

"...Arnold for his talent as a military leader and for his heroism as an American patriot...." Read more

"...It covers his treason, and his eventual escape to the British side, and even some of America's attempts to get him, then ABRUPTLY STOPS before..." Read more

29 customers mention "Abrupt ending"0 positive29 negative

Customers are disappointed with the abrupt ending. They feel the narrative stops abruptly and is incomplete. Some readers also mention that the book stops short of the Battle of Yorktown.

"...The book frankly cuts off quite abruptly, even an epilogue chapter, " A Nation of Traitors" did not feel me in as to what happened to..." Read more

"...British side, and even some of America's attempts to get him, then ABRUPTLY STOPS before telling you what happens to Arnold...." Read more

"...My only issue is, as this review is titled, the book ends rather suddenly, leaving this reader seeking closure...." Read more

"...My only problem with the book is that it seems to end to abruptly. You’ll understand what I mean after you read it." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2018
    This is an honest and interesting treatment of the American Revolution from the perspective of its most famous person, George Washington, and it's most infamous person, Benedict Arnold. What the author does is provide a very good portrait of Arnold as a brave and brilliant, if brash, military officer and strategist, along with his ignoble traits of vanity and self interest. This is contrasted with Washington, who is portrayed as a not so brilliant strategist, and learning through mistakes to become a great military leader. But the author confirms what we believe, that Washington is not a vain person and exhibits through his actions and writings a purpose that is in the best interests of the people and our country.
    Besides the British, the greatest problem for Washington is the incessant meddling in his affairs by the Continental Congress, which for the most part appears to be acting on behalf of the special interests of the various state factions that form the government. This also creates major problems for Arnold, who is passed over many times for legitimate promotions in rank, by a disapproving Congress. It is possible that his treason would not have occurred had Congress behaved in a fair and equitable way and properly recognized his military accomplishments.
    As the book draws to a conclusion, the author describes Arnold's predictable slide into treason, the part of the story we are all know from the version of American History taught in grade school. Some reviews say that the book ends without a proper conclusion. I am guessing that they would like more information on Arnold after he defected and some more details on his military exploits under the British Flag. But I think the author, being a writer interested in American History, might have another book in mind as a sequel to this one. All in all I think the author provided a well balanced and unbiased description of events.
    I found the TV miniseries TURN, about Washington's Spy Ring, to provide a very interesting look at this period. Clearly the screenwriters have taken some Hollywood liberties concerning historical accuracy. Although the focus is on espionage, it covers the battles of the period starting around late 1776 to the end of 1781 with the siege of Yorktown. And besides the main characters of the Spy Ring, it includes a good portrayal of George Washington and Benedict Arnold and takes on the whole affair of Arnold's treason, including the roles of Andre and Peggy Shippen. It also goes beyond Philbrick's book to let us know the fate of these characters after the revolution.
    I can also recommend another book for Revolutionary War history buffs: The Life of George Washington, by John Marshall. Besides a complete biography of Washington, the book covers all the military battles fought throughout the 13 colonies and Canada. It is also where I first learned about the Continental Congress interfering with Washington's prosecution of the war. Post war, when Washington is President, it describes some of the major events, particularly the delicate problem of the French Revolution, that affected his presidency. It is an interesting book if you like American History.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2020
    "Valiant Ambition" is well-written and pleasant to read. The historiography is good. Philbrick basically 'follows the money' to show the motivations of the players. It covers the middle years of the Revolution. Benedict Arnold plays an outsized role, as well he should. He began as one of the most capable American generals. He became disillusioned by the ineptitude of the Continental Congress (no authority to levy taxes or conscript troops or impose a theatre-wide command structure), by pettiness, graft, and office-seeking of prominent colonists, and by disunity among the states. He felt he deserved to get rich and famous. His young, beautiful, and manipulative loyalist second wife helped to seduce him to the dark side where he became the traitor who almost "threw" the war to the British and in the process galvanized the Patriots to realize that the war was theirs to win or lose. This book is part of a trilogy, so start with volume 1 that covers pre-war events, and focuses on the early years of the war in New England.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2016
    If you're checking out the reviews of Nathaniel Philbrick's book, it means you are drawn to books about American history. And if you are, you will want to read this book. Philbrick is a fine writer, and he does his usual skillful job of making history exciting, without sacrificing accuracy or injecting hyperbole. We all know the basics of Benedict Arnold's treachery, but I bet-like me--you are unaware of the details. Philbrick gives us the incredible background, reminding us the American Revolution was far from the straight-line march to glory and success of the underdog Colonists that too many history books and our popular culture makes it out to be. Along the way, personality clashes and vainglorious personal ambitions led to divisions that threatened to undermine the far from united Americans. Plus, the Continental Congress' ineptitude and--dare I say it--the lack of solid popular support for the Revolutionary cause left Washington's Army starving, ill-fed, and ill-clothed for large swaths of time.

    As an American general, Benedict Arnold accomplished mighty deeds for the American cause, and he did end up being seriously mistreated by his fellow officers. The details provide more understanding for his betrayal, although not exculpation, since financial gain was the primary motivation for his ultimate act. The account of the final hours that led to Arnold's fleeing to his, by then, British masters reads like something only a fiction writer could come up with. Washington, himself--along with Alexander Hamilton--was only minutes away from visiting West Point, commanded by Arnold, when Arnold learned that Washington, upon arrival, would receive the message revealing Arnold's treason. Arnold hastily mounted his horse and fled to his boat on the Hudson River, which conveyed him quickly to a British vessel. He lived out his not so happy life in England.

    Like American history? Read this book.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars As Effective as Ken Burns' 'The Civil War' and with better picture quality - i.e. my imagination!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2021
    Outstandingly readable, wonderfully-researched, but with all the readability of a well-written novel that truly brings characters and motivations to life.

    I spent a week taking my time and savoring this book.

    In a way, I wish I had realised that there were so many good portraits at the end of the book - but it was good to take my time going through the supporting notes as well.

    Highly, highly recommended!

    Nadine in Scotland
  • R Helen
    3.0 out of 5 stars Decent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2018
    This idea of this book was to trace Benedict Arnold's role as one of the leading generals of the Revolutionary War to his descent into treason. As that story goes, it's pretty interesting. As a child I obviously knew of Arnold as America's most famous traitor, but here is his full story in all its complexities and Arnold comes out as not entirely unsympathetic. He wasn't treated well by the Continental Congress, and while that shouldn't excuse his behavior, it certainly explains why he might want to change sides. He just should have been open about it. Plenty of Americans were loyalists and for good reason and the black and white version of America's birth we learn in Elementary School is obviously simplistic.

    But the main thrust of this book is the War and it's battles. I personally prefer social and political history; war doesn't interest me much. So, I don't enjoy reading about battles. But if you like this sort of thing, than Philbrick's book is well written and informative. There is a bit of a cliff-hanger ending, too. As I know we won in the end, that is obviously not a surprise, but i don't know the particulars. The book ends with Nethanael Greene writing a letter to his wife and heading South to confront Cornwallis. I had to look up what happens to him. If your knowledge of the War itself extends no more than fifth grade, like mine, than this was genuinely a suspenseful ending. Although I guess it wasn't intended that way.

    Philbrick is a good writer, I loved his book on the Mayflower, and this one is worthwhile too. Just be aware, it's primarily a war book.
  • Argyrios Pisiotis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another "must-read" for Philbrick fans and lovers of American history
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2016
    Yet another thoroughly researched and majestically presented piece of American history by Philbrick. What makes reading this as well as his other books so fascinating is the masterful way in which he combines traditional kinds of historiography, such as political and diplomatic, with material history and biography -in other words his ability to literally resurrect the past and its characters in a most vivid manner.
  • Cosmo lang
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth a glance!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2019
    Very pleased.
  • greasey
    2.0 out of 5 stars Boring and political
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2022
    This book was too dry and boring for me. There is hardly anything about the battles. Most of it is political about George Washington and Benedict Arnold. Don't waste your money.