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God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man
Benedict Arnold committed treason— for more than two centuries, that’s all that most Americans have known about him.
Yet Arnold was much more than a turncoat—his achievements during the early years of the Revolutionary War defined him as the most successful soldier of the era. God Save Benedict Arnold tells the gripping story of Arnold’s rush of audacious feats—his capture of Fort Ticonderoga, his Maine mountain expedition to attack Quebec, the famous artillery brawl at Valcour Island, the turning-point battle at Saratoga—that laid the groundwork for our independence.
Arnold was a superb leader, a brilliant tactician, a supremely courageous military officer. He was also imperfect, disloyal, villainous. One of the most paradoxical characters in American history, and one of the most interesting. God Save Benedict Arnold does not exonerate him for his treason—the stain on his character is permanent. But Kelly’s insightful exploration of Arnold’s career as a warrior shines a new light on this gutsy, fearless, and enigmatic figure. In the process, the book offers a fresh perspective on the reasons for Arnold’s momentous change of heart.
Yet Arnold was much more than a turncoat—his achievements during the early years of the Revolutionary War defined him as the most successful soldier of the era. God Save Benedict Arnold tells the gripping story of Arnold’s rush of audacious feats—his capture of Fort Ticonderoga, his Maine mountain expedition to attack Quebec, the famous artillery brawl at Valcour Island, the turning-point battle at Saratoga—that laid the groundwork for our independence.
Arnold was a superb leader, a brilliant tactician, a supremely courageous military officer. He was also imperfect, disloyal, villainous. One of the most paradoxical characters in American history, and one of the most interesting. God Save Benedict Arnold does not exonerate him for his treason—the stain on his character is permanent. But Kelly’s insightful exploration of Arnold’s career as a warrior shines a new light on this gutsy, fearless, and enigmatic figure. In the process, the book offers a fresh perspective on the reasons for Arnold’s momentous change of heart.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2023
115 people are currently reading
4695 people want to read
About the author
Jack Kelly
11 books63 followersJack Kelly is an award-winning author and historian. He has published works of narrative nonfiction focusing on the Revolutionary War and early America.
Jack lives with the acclaimed artist Joy Taylor and a lovely, nondescript cat named Allis Chalmers, in New York's Hudson Valley. He writes mainly about the American Revolution and the early history of the nation. He’s always happy to hear from readers via his website JackKellyBooks.com.
Perhaps because of a background as the author of five crime novels, Jack writes nonfiction with the compulsive energy of thrillers. He has covered a range of fascinating historical personalities in his books GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD, VALCOUR, and BAND OF GIANTS. In honor of the 2025 bicentennial of the Erie Canal, his history HEAVEN’S DITCH gives an intriguing look at the excitement surrounding that major achievement.
In January 2026, Jack will publish TOM PAINE’S WAR. The book offers a compelling portrait of the man who was the voice of the American Revolution and who remains our most relevant founder. Paine’s Common Sense convinced Americans to declare independence. He went on to march with Washington’s army during the desperate struggle of 1776.
Jack has received the DAR History Medal and is a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow in Nonfiction Literature.
Jack lives with the acclaimed artist Joy Taylor and a lovely, nondescript cat named Allis Chalmers, in New York's Hudson Valley. He writes mainly about the American Revolution and the early history of the nation. He’s always happy to hear from readers via his website JackKellyBooks.com.
Perhaps because of a background as the author of five crime novels, Jack writes nonfiction with the compulsive energy of thrillers. He has covered a range of fascinating historical personalities in his books GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD, VALCOUR, and BAND OF GIANTS. In honor of the 2025 bicentennial of the Erie Canal, his history HEAVEN’S DITCH gives an intriguing look at the excitement surrounding that major achievement.
In January 2026, Jack will publish TOM PAINE’S WAR. The book offers a compelling portrait of the man who was the voice of the American Revolution and who remains our most relevant founder. Paine’s Common Sense convinced Americans to declare independence. He went on to march with Washington’s army during the desperate struggle of 1776.
Jack has received the DAR History Medal and is a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow in Nonfiction Literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
November 13, 2023
History comes alive in this biography of one of the most notorious figures in United States History....or perhaps pre-history. All we are ever told is that he was a villainous traitor, but even the details of that have become vague over time.
The colonies were in a state of unrest and dissatisfaction. They felt that King George III, was just imposing too much on and against them. Early on, most of the colonists felt that their disagreements would be mended and life would continue on under British rule. King George scoffed at that, If the colonists wanted war, he would give it to them and put an end to their rebelliousness. They were farmers, it wouldn't take much to bring them back to heel.
Benedict Arnold was a successful owner of his own merchant business. He captain his own trading vessel and traveled to far off ports to negotiate. He was one of the few, early on, who knew that the unrest was destined to be much more. At great risk to himself, he gathered men to enlist in the colonial/Patriot army. He was a brilliant strategist. Decisive and quick to act, he accomplished the capture of a couple British forts, without a shot fired. As time went on, he sacrificed his own wealth and business to push forward the patriot cause towards independence. He felt under-appreciate through all his achievements and sacrifices. The colonial congress overlooked him many times and promoted men below him to higher military ranks and honors. Others took credit for his achievements.
As I read these accounts I could almost understand what lead to his downfall. It finally came to a climax after he received a major injury that left him out of action and able to brood on all the slights he had suffered. The British officers reporting back, after suffering major losses at Arnold's hand, paid him more respect then did most of his own colonial politicians.
Finally, Gen George Washington learned that Arnold, who he viewed as a close friend, was feeding intelligence to the British army. History has claimed it was from greed, the British were going to pay Arnold handsomely for his information and internal undermining of the patriot military locations. After reading this vivid biography, I believe it may be more than that. He seems to have been a very sensitive individual, every slight, perceived or real, was taken deeply and finally festered to the point where he acted out. After all, if it was money he wanted more than anything else, why spend his own in the beginning, leading his business into debt and ruin?
The colonies were in a state of unrest and dissatisfaction. They felt that King George III, was just imposing too much on and against them. Early on, most of the colonists felt that their disagreements would be mended and life would continue on under British rule. King George scoffed at that, If the colonists wanted war, he would give it to them and put an end to their rebelliousness. They were farmers, it wouldn't take much to bring them back to heel.
Benedict Arnold was a successful owner of his own merchant business. He captain his own trading vessel and traveled to far off ports to negotiate. He was one of the few, early on, who knew that the unrest was destined to be much more. At great risk to himself, he gathered men to enlist in the colonial/Patriot army. He was a brilliant strategist. Decisive and quick to act, he accomplished the capture of a couple British forts, without a shot fired. As time went on, he sacrificed his own wealth and business to push forward the patriot cause towards independence. He felt under-appreciate through all his achievements and sacrifices. The colonial congress overlooked him many times and promoted men below him to higher military ranks and honors. Others took credit for his achievements.
As I read these accounts I could almost understand what lead to his downfall. It finally came to a climax after he received a major injury that left him out of action and able to brood on all the slights he had suffered. The British officers reporting back, after suffering major losses at Arnold's hand, paid him more respect then did most of his own colonial politicians.
Finally, Gen George Washington learned that Arnold, who he viewed as a close friend, was feeding intelligence to the British army. History has claimed it was from greed, the British were going to pay Arnold handsomely for his information and internal undermining of the patriot military locations. After reading this vivid biography, I believe it may be more than that. He seems to have been a very sensitive individual, every slight, perceived or real, was taken deeply and finally festered to the point where he acted out. After all, if it was money he wanted more than anything else, why spend his own in the beginning, leading his business into debt and ruin?
Read
November 9, 2023This was an absorbing read, impeccably researched, thoughtfully constructed, and impressive in notes and bibliography. The book reached brilliance in the vivid depiction of exactly what it was like to be toiling through rough country in search of the enemy especially in the early years of the revolution, when the forming nation wasn't even certain it wanted to be a nation.
I read this, as it happened, while I was traveling through the very areas Arnold and his troops struggled through. From the train windows, as I crossed the border, I could look out at the beautiful countryside and imagine just how terrible it was to be compounding with that terrain through the heat of summer, and the bitter winters.
I appreciated the plentiful quotations from period sources, and I looked forward to the revelation of "Why?" But we really don't get a why. What Kelly gives us are strong arguments supporting Arnold's decision to jump the fence, but we don't actually have direct evidence for his inner process. It's clear that Kiley went spelunking for clues, and these are on display, but the reader will still have to decide for themselves.
The aftermath, and what Arnold meant as a symbol, and the consequences of his actions--both for himself and for the early republic--are well laid out. Overall, an excellent addition to modern scholarship about the American Revolution.
I read this, as it happened, while I was traveling through the very areas Arnold and his troops struggled through. From the train windows, as I crossed the border, I could look out at the beautiful countryside and imagine just how terrible it was to be compounding with that terrain through the heat of summer, and the bitter winters.
I appreciated the plentiful quotations from period sources, and I looked forward to the revelation of "Why?" But we really don't get a why. What Kelly gives us are strong arguments supporting Arnold's decision to jump the fence, but we don't actually have direct evidence for his inner process. It's clear that Kiley went spelunking for clues, and these are on display, but the reader will still have to decide for themselves.
The aftermath, and what Arnold meant as a symbol, and the consequences of his actions--both for himself and for the early republic--are well laid out. Overall, an excellent addition to modern scholarship about the American Revolution.
February 21, 2023
God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man by Jack Kelly is an excellent nonfiction that takes an in-depth look at the notorious, complex, and yet fascinating historical figure.
I have read quite a bit about the Revolutionary War, but to focus on Benedict Arnold, his life, the role that he played in history, and the choices he made…was really quite eye-opening.
I have enjoyed Mr. Kelly in the past, and this book did not disappoint. It was easy to understand, paced well, and the way it was presented really made it enjoyable to learn while I relaxed. I highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 12/5/23.
I have read quite a bit about the Revolutionary War, but to focus on Benedict Arnold, his life, the role that he played in history, and the choices he made…was really quite eye-opening.
I have enjoyed Mr. Kelly in the past, and this book did not disappoint. It was easy to understand, paced well, and the way it was presented really made it enjoyable to learn while I relaxed. I highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 12/5/23.
November 24, 2023
Benedict Arnold is still a jerk. However, it is nice to read Jack Kelly's new book to be reminded he was one hell of a battlefield commander. And also impossible to get along with if you spent more than 10 minutes with him.
Kelly's God Save Benedict Arnold is a very good book mostly focused on Arnold's battles on the good side (U-S-A! U-S-A!) before he broke bad. Kelly's writing style is perfect for the subject as the battles feel frenetic even with the outcome long since established. I did appreciate that Kelly didn't overpraise anyone in particular including Arnold. As a self-identified Revolutionary War nerd, I've read many books that fall into hero worship for specific figures at the expense of others. For example, it is very easy to make Horatio Gates look bad at Saratoga but Kelly keeps a balanced view and doesn't attribute otherworldly leadership to Arnold as the battle is won.
This is a great book for anyone who isn't that familiar with the American Revolution or hasn't picked up a book about it since grade school. Kelly keeps the pacing brisk and it's an easy read. If you are more familiar with all the major players, this won't shed a tremendous amount of new light on the events of this time period. It also doesn't spend a tremendous amount of time trying to answer the "why" of Arnold's treachery. This is not a criticism as Kelly is focused on his battlefield prowess. It's a great read.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)
Kelly's God Save Benedict Arnold is a very good book mostly focused on Arnold's battles on the good side (U-S-A! U-S-A!) before he broke bad. Kelly's writing style is perfect for the subject as the battles feel frenetic even with the outcome long since established. I did appreciate that Kelly didn't overpraise anyone in particular including Arnold. As a self-identified Revolutionary War nerd, I've read many books that fall into hero worship for specific figures at the expense of others. For example, it is very easy to make Horatio Gates look bad at Saratoga but Kelly keeps a balanced view and doesn't attribute otherworldly leadership to Arnold as the battle is won.
This is a great book for anyone who isn't that familiar with the American Revolution or hasn't picked up a book about it since grade school. Kelly keeps the pacing brisk and it's an easy read. If you are more familiar with all the major players, this won't shed a tremendous amount of new light on the events of this time period. It also doesn't spend a tremendous amount of time trying to answer the "why" of Arnold's treachery. This is not a criticism as Kelly is focused on his battlefield prowess. It's a great read.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)
January 14, 2024
Whenever anyone hears the name "Benedict Arnold," they think of a man who turned traitor to his country toward the end of the American Revolution. They're correct, of course. But it it weren't for Arnold, the Americans might have lost their war against the British, and there might not have been a "United States of America."
Most books about Arnold focus mainly on his deserting to the British toward the end of the war, and they neglect talking about his contributions to America while he fought with the Americans against the British. But Arnold played a crucial role while fighting on the American side. The book highlights those contributions, and also has a few chapters about his desertion and his life after the war.
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Arnold--along with the Green Mountain Boys--took Fort Ticonderoga from the British. From September to November of 1775, Arnold led 1,000 men and 2 women on a horrific march through woods, rivers, swamps, and rain to take Quebec from the British. The going was so difficult that half his soldiers either died or deserted along the way. The attack was unsuccessful, Arnold was wounded during the fighting, and one of the women got her head shot off by a cannonball. Arnold played an extremely important role in defeating the British during the Saratoga Campaign (July-October of 1777). In fact, if Arnold hadn't been there, the Americans would probably have lost the battle along with the war. Believe it or not, there's a monument on the Saratoga National Historical Park of Arnold's boot, which symbolizes his leg that got shattered in the fighting.
Ever since Arnold turned traitor 250 years ago, people have tried to figure out why he changed sides, and they still don't know for sure. Some think Arnold resented having less qualified men being given promotions over him. Others think his wife Peggy persuaded him to switch sides, even though her family was neutral during the war, or that he was greedy for the money the British were offering if he deserted to them. In the end, no one has come up with a valid reason for his desertion.
If you like reading about the American Revolution, God Save Benedict Arnold is a book well worth reading.
Most books about Arnold focus mainly on his deserting to the British toward the end of the war, and they neglect talking about his contributions to America while he fought with the Americans against the British. But Arnold played a crucial role while fighting on the American side. The book highlights those contributions, and also has a few chapters about his desertion and his life after the war.
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Arnold--along with the Green Mountain Boys--took Fort Ticonderoga from the British. From September to November of 1775, Arnold led 1,000 men and 2 women on a horrific march through woods, rivers, swamps, and rain to take Quebec from the British. The going was so difficult that half his soldiers either died or deserted along the way. The attack was unsuccessful, Arnold was wounded during the fighting, and one of the women got her head shot off by a cannonball. Arnold played an extremely important role in defeating the British during the Saratoga Campaign (July-October of 1777). In fact, if Arnold hadn't been there, the Americans would probably have lost the battle along with the war. Believe it or not, there's a monument on the Saratoga National Historical Park of Arnold's boot, which symbolizes his leg that got shattered in the fighting.
Ever since Arnold turned traitor 250 years ago, people have tried to figure out why he changed sides, and they still don't know for sure. Some think Arnold resented having less qualified men being given promotions over him. Others think his wife Peggy persuaded him to switch sides, even though her family was neutral during the war, or that he was greedy for the money the British were offering if he deserted to them. In the end, no one has come up with a valid reason for his desertion.
If you like reading about the American Revolution, God Save Benedict Arnold is a book well worth reading.
December 12, 2023
I've enjoyed historical nonfiction in the past. So I was intrigued with the idea of reading more about the infamous traitor.
Well, so much for wanting to learn more about U.S. history. I got really bored with the narrative. However, I did like the author's writing style.
I wasn't a fan of U.S. history during high school and college and I guess things haven't changed much since then (though I had hoped it did.) I did find it strange that I enjoyed the historical nonfiction novel, Empire of Ice and Stone, but didn't care for God Save Benedict Arnold.
I'm sure U.S. history buffs will certainly enjoy God Save Benedict Arnold. Unfortunately, I didn't and gave up early on in the reading process. Two stars because, while I didn't finish the novel, I did like the writing style of the author. Too bad the subject matter wasn't appealing enough for me.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Well, so much for wanting to learn more about U.S. history. I got really bored with the narrative. However, I did like the author's writing style.
I wasn't a fan of U.S. history during high school and college and I guess things haven't changed much since then (though I had hoped it did.) I did find it strange that I enjoyed the historical nonfiction novel, Empire of Ice and Stone, but didn't care for God Save Benedict Arnold.
I'm sure U.S. history buffs will certainly enjoy God Save Benedict Arnold. Unfortunately, I didn't and gave up early on in the reading process. Two stars because, while I didn't finish the novel, I did like the writing style of the author. Too bad the subject matter wasn't appealing enough for me.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
February 15, 2024
This is the 8th Arnold biography that I have read. It's the 9th if you include the biography of his co-conspirator, his second wife Peggy. Needless to say I find the man's life fascinating. As for this book I will characterize it as a lite Arnold biography. It is well written and short, only 269 pages of text, but it is also short on detail and depth. There are more detailed accounts of this man's life to be found but if you want a relatively quick overview then this book would do the trick. The book was more than a slow read for me primarily because there was little new material to be found here and I knew the events well and knew what was missing. Near the end the author does offer his belief in the reasons for Arnold's treason. These reasons are very much in accord with my own beliefs. The author rejects the notion that it was about greed and money and cites the same evidence I would offer. What I believe and what the author seems to agree with is that he did it because he lost faith in the political leadership of the country. Based on the way he was treated in exchange for his efforts and the neglect of the men fighting for the cause Arnold concluded that the Revolution wouldn't succeed. Further, if the Revolution did succeed the country would fail if govern by the kind of men presently in power. I suspect that he was motivated by a desire to save the American people further bloodshed and chaos by doing something that would bring the war to an end. There is so much more to Arnold than his treason as his life is full of life lessons about having faith and how the faithful should be treated. I think such lessons might be very useful in our present political climate. Enjoy.
January 6, 2024
TBH I have served with Officers of similar character, competence, and comportment as our friend Benedict Arnold. It comes as no surprise that when a man of such ego and sense of entitlement, faced with returning home to his children to live the life of a penniless merchant after sacrificing so much for this concept of America, would become extremely disenchanted and sour. It appears that in Arnold’s mind, despite all evidence at hand, he was able to justify his own actions rather than admitting to temptation of pride, vanity, greed, lust, and envy. Unfortunately for Old Ben, the impact of his life choices were significant.
If only we had a Time Machine, we could find answers that Jack Kelly was unable to unearth in his extensive research on the nation’s most hated man.
🚩 There were many decision points which changed the trajectory of BA’s career. I wonder which (if any) choices, if made differently could have changed his life for the better?
🇺🇸 How do politics influence our military’s ability to promote the most capable? By what design was BA not selected for promotion ahead of his subordinates earlier in his career? Was there early indication of his questionable character that really led to those decisions?
🤷🏻♂️ What were the true driving factors of BA’s personality that influenced his actions and decision making?
🇬🇧How was BA so easily accepted back by the British after being branded a traitor as a revolutionary?
If only we had a Time Machine, we could find answers that Jack Kelly was unable to unearth in his extensive research on the nation’s most hated man.
🚩 There were many decision points which changed the trajectory of BA’s career. I wonder which (if any) choices, if made differently could have changed his life for the better?
🇺🇸 How do politics influence our military’s ability to promote the most capable? By what design was BA not selected for promotion ahead of his subordinates earlier in his career? Was there early indication of his questionable character that really led to those decisions?
🤷🏻♂️ What were the true driving factors of BA’s personality that influenced his actions and decision making?
🇬🇧How was BA so easily accepted back by the British after being branded a traitor as a revolutionary?
October 8, 2023
Benedict Arnold was a hot head who acted upon emotion and not logic. He desperately needed recognition and would literally risk life and limb to get it. That is the first important thing for you to learn. Second, is that time and retelling change the public perception of personalities and events. An example other than Arnold is that Ethan Allen has long been perceived as a patriotic hero. Instead, contemporaneous writings indicate that he was self-promoting and coarse. (Note: It appears that some of my ancestors married into some of his descendants so I have no reason to slam him other than what appears in the written record. I am so disappointed.) This author endeavors to "set the record straight" by giving us a look at Arnold the man as well as others around him. In doing so the reader can judge for themselves whether Arnold was a villain, a hero, or a tortured combination of both. I am going with the last.
Arnold's exploits are very clearly related; he was an amazing military man, very clever, and very brave. He put everything on the line, losing his fortune, his business, and having his wife die while he was gone. And in return the Continental Congress refused to recognize how much we benefitted from his hard work and ability to construct brilliant military strategy. If they hadn't so incredibly stingy with reimbursements and praise, I am certain history would have been radically different.
The book is heavy on historical detail, mostly that which has never been taught in the U.S. public schools. It is well-supported with footnotes and sources. There is a great deal of very specific information that I did not know about the Revolutionary War, and was happy to learn. For example, I had no idea that the first Continental Congress wanted to give back captured arms and fortresses when relations would be normalized between the colonies and Great Britain. I found it very interesting that our Founding Fathers didn't have the taste for war that has somehow been written into the narrative of the beginnings of our country. Instead of being war hawks, or even determined to prevail in all of our issues, they seemed to want to put everything back where it had been and continue to be a colony.
The author noted that King George scoffed at the notion of reconciliation with the colonies and that he declared them to be in rebellion. Ok, but he was a constitutional monarch by that time, as I understand it. The King could declare what he wanted but it was Parliament that needed to declare war.
I really disliked the footnoting in the edition I had and hope it is fixed in the final published version. The sentence needing a citation would start, and the footnote would be at the end of the first word, not at the end of the sentence. It arrested your fluent reading of what was written. I've never seen that before in a career that included law school, writing draft opinions on behalf of a judge I worked for, and many years of legal practice. It's really annoying. Also, the links in the edition I was provided did not work both ways; if you followed the link to the citation, you were dumped in no-man's land and had to go to the beginning of the entire text and page in. That has to be corrected in the print copy.
I definitely can recommend this book as being very interesting and enlightening. Thank you to Jack Kelly, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a pre-publication copy to read and review. My opinions are my own and I received nothing in return for my review.
Arnold's exploits are very clearly related; he was an amazing military man, very clever, and very brave. He put everything on the line, losing his fortune, his business, and having his wife die while he was gone. And in return the Continental Congress refused to recognize how much we benefitted from his hard work and ability to construct brilliant military strategy. If they hadn't so incredibly stingy with reimbursements and praise, I am certain history would have been radically different.
The book is heavy on historical detail, mostly that which has never been taught in the U.S. public schools. It is well-supported with footnotes and sources. There is a great deal of very specific information that I did not know about the Revolutionary War, and was happy to learn. For example, I had no idea that the first Continental Congress wanted to give back captured arms and fortresses when relations would be normalized between the colonies and Great Britain. I found it very interesting that our Founding Fathers didn't have the taste for war that has somehow been written into the narrative of the beginnings of our country. Instead of being war hawks, or even determined to prevail in all of our issues, they seemed to want to put everything back where it had been and continue to be a colony.
The author noted that King George scoffed at the notion of reconciliation with the colonies and that he declared them to be in rebellion. Ok, but he was a constitutional monarch by that time, as I understand it. The King could declare what he wanted but it was Parliament that needed to declare war.
I really disliked the footnoting in the edition I had and hope it is fixed in the final published version. The sentence needing a citation would start, and the footnote would be at the end of the first word, not at the end of the sentence. It arrested your fluent reading of what was written. I've never seen that before in a career that included law school, writing draft opinions on behalf of a judge I worked for, and many years of legal practice. It's really annoying. Also, the links in the edition I was provided did not work both ways; if you followed the link to the citation, you were dumped in no-man's land and had to go to the beginning of the entire text and page in. That has to be corrected in the print copy.
I definitely can recommend this book as being very interesting and enlightening. Thank you to Jack Kelly, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a pre-publication copy to read and review. My opinions are my own and I received nothing in return for my review.
December 29, 2023
The best thing this book did for me is to remind me of how fascinating the American Revolution is if one digs beneath the common narrative. Kelly considers the enigma of Benedict Arnold's betrayal from an objective position and the telling is really good. It made me remember how complex the birth of this country was, how diverse the interests and self-interests that drove the rebellion and the war.
I would have preferred more about the Continental Congress and the motives that lead them to make disastrous decisions and less detail of some of the battles, but I doubt knowing more about the politicians would have made Arnold's motives for betrayal any clearer.
Though he's not the subject of this book, one of Arnold's aides was James Wilkinson, a soldier who went on to perform spectacular acts of treachery after the war. It's enough to make you believe in the illuminati.
I would have preferred more about the Continental Congress and the motives that lead them to make disastrous decisions and less detail of some of the battles, but I doubt knowing more about the politicians would have made Arnold's motives for betrayal any clearer.
Though he's not the subject of this book, one of Arnold's aides was James Wilkinson, a soldier who went on to perform spectacular acts of treachery after the war. It's enough to make you believe in the illuminati.
November 19, 2023
Wow. This account of Benedict Arnold immediately made me question my opinion of him and if it was based on all of the facts at hand. I love when a book makes me question my convictions. It touched on many battles and events, as well as military leaders of the Revolutionary War that are rarely elaborated on in other text. I learned a lot.
I would not recommend this as a starter book for those just beginning education on the Revolutionary War, but one further into that education. Knowing many of whom the players were already was very helpful in understanding the events discussed. There were times I wished the author would have included the word "American" or "British" before the word "General/Col" throughout the writing because lesser-known military leaders were discussed and I wasn't always sure which side the author was referring to without looking back in the text.
The author did a great job of describing the failures of Congress during the war and the negative contributions that made to the War as a whole. The last twenty pages or so of discussion on causation of Benedict Arnold's switch were fantastic. The author presents his own ideas as well as statements made from people throughout history on what may have contributed to Arnold's actions. He delves into not just what motivated Benedict Arnold but what motivates humans as a whole. I took many lessons as a leader away about my responsibility in knowing my people and strategically placing them in positions in which they will excel. It means I must put in the work to know what motivates the people subordinate to me and use that information strategically.
As a person that has always been a risktaker and thrives in dangerous situations, I personally related to this quote, about halfway through the text in reference to Benedict Arnold: "There was something about the precarious gap between life and death that attracted him. It was on that knife-edge that he felt most fully alive. No wonder he excelled at war. A battle was for him a kind of homecoming, a place where he found himself poised on the roof beam of existence."
I would not recommend this as a starter book for those just beginning education on the Revolutionary War, but one further into that education. Knowing many of whom the players were already was very helpful in understanding the events discussed. There were times I wished the author would have included the word "American" or "British" before the word "General/Col" throughout the writing because lesser-known military leaders were discussed and I wasn't always sure which side the author was referring to without looking back in the text.
The author did a great job of describing the failures of Congress during the war and the negative contributions that made to the War as a whole. The last twenty pages or so of discussion on causation of Benedict Arnold's switch were fantastic. The author presents his own ideas as well as statements made from people throughout history on what may have contributed to Arnold's actions. He delves into not just what motivated Benedict Arnold but what motivates humans as a whole. I took many lessons as a leader away about my responsibility in knowing my people and strategically placing them in positions in which they will excel. It means I must put in the work to know what motivates the people subordinate to me and use that information strategically.
As a person that has always been a risktaker and thrives in dangerous situations, I personally related to this quote, about halfway through the text in reference to Benedict Arnold: "There was something about the precarious gap between life and death that attracted him. It was on that knife-edge that he felt most fully alive. No wonder he excelled at war. A battle was for him a kind of homecoming, a place where he found himself poised on the roof beam of existence."
January 15, 2024
An interesting book! The Benedict Arnold that emerges from these pages was a top-notch soldier: he was enterprising, bold, courageous, quick-thinking on his feet, good at logistics, a natural leader of men. At least this is all true up to the 1777 battles of Saratoga (NY), during which Arnold suffered a severe injury to his left leg (which had been injured in an earlier battle, in Quebec). Then the forced inactivity of healing allowed him to reflect upon the incredible series of setbacks and challenges that he had experienced almost from the time he joined the battle of the American Revolution. The sense of personal honor that he had had all along again became uppermost in his mind. (Ironically, George Washington had been supportive of Arnold throughout his various struggles with Congress.) -- Then the author leaps ahead to the event for which Arnold is (for better or worse) most remembered: his 1780 attempt to turn West Point over to the British. He fills in the intervening years, but not with the same eye to detail that he had used to write Arnold's life to this point. This makes the book (to this reader, at least) seem rather lopsided. The author makes a number of suggestions as to the motivation for Arnold's treachery...but he (wisely, I think) leaves the final conclusions to the reader. (We will probably never know for sure...) Despite its (few) flaws, this is an excellent book -- recommended!
December 1, 2023
Thank you, Jack Kelly, for giving me a new perspective on the life of Benedict Arnold. Like many who grew up in the United States, I knew Benedict Arnold as a traitor to America and little else. You have shown me he was a gifted war strategist and a multi-faceted person.
The American Revolution and the Civil War share some important similarities in that often times family members and friends were on opposing sides. And there were many people who remained neutral. It’s easy to see how the lines could become blurred for individuals living during those times.
In Benedict’s case, he wanted to be rewarded for his military successes and it often seemed someone else stole the spotlight and that Congress overlooked him for promotions. At times he was serving under individuals who had once been serving under him. He felt humiliated and was dissatisfied in serving for the Patriot cause. Most likely the only reason he stayed as long as he did was because of his belief in the cause and his favorable relationship with George Washington.
I loved reading this and learning about a side of American history I knew little about. This would be a great gift for readers who love history and the strategies of war during the American Revolutionary times.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy of offer an honest review and recommend this to other readers.
The American Revolution and the Civil War share some important similarities in that often times family members and friends were on opposing sides. And there were many people who remained neutral. It’s easy to see how the lines could become blurred for individuals living during those times.
In Benedict’s case, he wanted to be rewarded for his military successes and it often seemed someone else stole the spotlight and that Congress overlooked him for promotions. At times he was serving under individuals who had once been serving under him. He felt humiliated and was dissatisfied in serving for the Patriot cause. Most likely the only reason he stayed as long as he did was because of his belief in the cause and his favorable relationship with George Washington.
I loved reading this and learning about a side of American history I knew little about. This would be a great gift for readers who love history and the strategies of war during the American Revolutionary times.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy of offer an honest review and recommend this to other readers.
December 26, 2023
If you think that Benedict Arnold was nothing but a charlatan and a traitor, this is a good book to start with in learning just how wrong you are [and how schools still do not tell the truth about this man].
Was Benedict Arnold a good man? That is up to the reader to decide [and I am sure we would all have different views], but one, after learning the truth, cannot say he wasn't a patriot and that he didn't fight hard for his country. How it all went to heck in a handbasket and how he turned from that patriotism to being one of the most reviled men in history, is what this book tells you. And what a ride that will be for those who know only what they have been taught in school.
Well-written and researched, this was a great book to read in addition to the other books I have read about Mr. Arnold [may I recommend to the readers Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick? It delves more into the "why" than this book does, for those who want a more tidy ending] and I will be recommending it to all my history-loving friends.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jack Kelly, and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Was Benedict Arnold a good man? That is up to the reader to decide [and I am sure we would all have different views], but one, after learning the truth, cannot say he wasn't a patriot and that he didn't fight hard for his country. How it all went to heck in a handbasket and how he turned from that patriotism to being one of the most reviled men in history, is what this book tells you. And what a ride that will be for those who know only what they have been taught in school.
Well-written and researched, this was a great book to read in addition to the other books I have read about Mr. Arnold [may I recommend to the readers Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick? It delves more into the "why" than this book does, for those who want a more tidy ending] and I will be recommending it to all my history-loving friends.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jack Kelly, and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2023
A fine account of the career of Benedict Arnold if you’re not familiar with him beyond the bounds of a U.S. History class.
I found this to be competently researched and organized, though I’m not sure I really learned anything new about Arnold. Though thorough, there’s not a lot here that Revolutionary history won’t already be aware of, and if you’ve read the author’s book Valcour, you’ll find a lot of duplicate information.
I was hoping for a bit more insight into the man himself, since his military career has been very well-documented. The title and publisher’s summary here led me to believe we might get some new or at least newly examined insight into Arnold’s treason and defection to Britain, but there’s nothing unique here.
If you’re new to material about Arnold this is a perfectly good book to start on, but if you’re looking for something beyond the usual content, look elsewhere.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I found this to be competently researched and organized, though I’m not sure I really learned anything new about Arnold. Though thorough, there’s not a lot here that Revolutionary history won’t already be aware of, and if you’ve read the author’s book Valcour, you’ll find a lot of duplicate information.
I was hoping for a bit more insight into the man himself, since his military career has been very well-documented. The title and publisher’s summary here led me to believe we might get some new or at least newly examined insight into Arnold’s treason and defection to Britain, but there’s nothing unique here.
If you’re new to material about Arnold this is a perfectly good book to start on, but if you’re looking for something beyond the usual content, look elsewhere.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
July 29, 2025
If you ever read much about the Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold captivates you. He’s bold, daring, and often the difference-maker in key battles. When his ultimate betrayal happens, your reaction isn’t what you expect. For me personally, he feels like a tragic figure—more Boromir (LOTR reference) than simple villain. You see his ambition, his frustrations, and the slights that push him toward his fateful choice, and instead of pure hatred, there’s this complicated mix of disappointment and empathy. Arnold’s story reminds you that heroes can fall, and sometimes their fall says as much about the world around them as about their own flaws.
December 6, 2023
I am a Canadian so I never learned the finer details of American history. This extended to players in many wars and things that are “common knowledge” for American history buffs. I love learning about those people now and Benedict Arnold was a fascinating person to discover. I was enthralled from page one and I could not stop. It was incredible to see the development of a patriotic soldier to a traitor. I was so engaged and invested that I wanted more in the best way possible. I think that this is a must read for anyone interested in the Revolutionary War, even people who think they know the story of this infamous man.
I happily received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I happily received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
September 26, 2023
This book does a fantastic job of showcasing the military prowess and accomplishments of Benedict Arnold. It also delves into the choices and reactions that Arnold made when faced with adversity. This is a fascinating study into character. One can be as talented and fortunate to achieve victories in the face of overwhelming odds just as Arnold did when battling and beating the British in several engagements in Canada and New England during the American Revolutionary war. However, his inability to accept that others may make decisions that impact his life and his own insecurity about his capabilities when compared to others often led to rash decisions that put him at odds with those who were championing his contribution.
He had several interactions with George Washington and other military leaders which seriously impacted his advancement all because he misinterpreted their motives when looking through his own lens of insecurity. In the end, his decisions could only lead to one ending.
Jack Kelly did a wonderful job of detailing the meticulousness nature of warfare in the 18th century and how Benedict Arnold played a role. Kelly's well researched book gives a view into a complex but ultimately deeply flawed and insecure man that most casual observers have missed. For the majority of Americans, Arnold is a traitor and his name has become synonymous with being a traitor. However, Kelly shows us that there was so much more to this than a simple betrayal.
The most telling statement that will stay with me is that had Arnold died due to his wounds from battle, he would have been lauded as one of the biggest military heroes of the time. However, his later actions, due to his need to fame or money or respect, completely covers his earlier contributions to the American effort during the Revolution.
I found this to be an intriguing book and a very readable account of a time that most Americans have a difficult time imagining.
Thank you to Macmillan for providing me an opportunity to review this.
He had several interactions with George Washington and other military leaders which seriously impacted his advancement all because he misinterpreted their motives when looking through his own lens of insecurity. In the end, his decisions could only lead to one ending.
Jack Kelly did a wonderful job of detailing the meticulousness nature of warfare in the 18th century and how Benedict Arnold played a role. Kelly's well researched book gives a view into a complex but ultimately deeply flawed and insecure man that most casual observers have missed. For the majority of Americans, Arnold is a traitor and his name has become synonymous with being a traitor. However, Kelly shows us that there was so much more to this than a simple betrayal.
The most telling statement that will stay with me is that had Arnold died due to his wounds from battle, he would have been lauded as one of the biggest military heroes of the time. However, his later actions, due to his need to fame or money or respect, completely covers his earlier contributions to the American effort during the Revolution.
I found this to be an intriguing book and a very readable account of a time that most Americans have a difficult time imagining.
Thank you to Macmillan for providing me an opportunity to review this.
December 11, 2023
I received a complimentary Advanced Readers Copy of this excellent biography from Netgalley, author Jack Kelly, and Katie Holt of St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read God Save Benedict Arnold of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend this excellent history to friends and family.
This is NOT the school-taught version of the history of this man that my generation was exposed to back in the 1960s, but rather the actual times and experiences of this man - and the reasons behind his transfer of loyalty back to England after years of fighting heroically for the Independence of the U.S. The fact that he turned traitor was not without cause, as is fully explained in this history. I wish it had been made more understandable back in high school. How far can you push a man and not expect recoil? The government was as thoughtless and self-aggrandizing then as it seems to be today. I wish it hadn't happened, but I fully understand why it did after reading this very well-researched version of the time.
pub date December 5, 2023
Reviewed on December i7, 2023, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
This is NOT the school-taught version of the history of this man that my generation was exposed to back in the 1960s, but rather the actual times and experiences of this man - and the reasons behind his transfer of loyalty back to England after years of fighting heroically for the Independence of the U.S. The fact that he turned traitor was not without cause, as is fully explained in this history. I wish it had been made more understandable back in high school. How far can you push a man and not expect recoil? The government was as thoughtless and self-aggrandizing then as it seems to be today. I wish it hadn't happened, but I fully understand why it did after reading this very well-researched version of the time.
pub date December 5, 2023
Reviewed on December i7, 2023, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
July 8, 2025
No person is all one thing or another. We are complex individuals. This book ventures to show Benedict Arnold as more than just a traitor to America. We simultaneously owe a debt of gratitude to him, and can also be disgusted at him turning traitor. The majority of the book is spent discussing Benedict the Patriot. I wish more time had been spent on Benedict the Traitor. All things considered this is a pretty short book, and fairly easy read. it definitely left me wanting more.
February 11, 2024
Very interesting story about one of the most famous betrayals in US history.
I also found interesting how little our politicians have changed if any. Like George Carlin said "if pro is the opposite of con, then Congress is the opposite of Progress".
I also found interesting how little our politicians have changed if any. Like George Carlin said "if pro is the opposite of con, then Congress is the opposite of Progress".
October 23, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this look at the actions of one of America's first traitors, the actions that made him a hero of the Revolution and the dark thoughts that made him a villain for all time.
There is an acronym used by American intelligence to explain the motivations of why one would want to spy or become a traitor to one's home country. M. I. C. E. Money, Ideology, Coercion or Compromise, and finally Ego. When one looks at the current political landscape, and the news at night one can see how this is really a great summation of why people turn. Money makes the world go round, ideology can change with age, a strong supporter can see the cracks in belief as one gets older. Coercion and compromise can mean many things from threats to occupation, life or even family. Ego though. That's has brought down many a person, especially if one is always looking for slights, and dents to their self-esteem. Thinking one is the smartest, the bestest, the mega-something, makes one easy to fool if someone toadies up to them just right. Ego makes on feel they are bigger than loyalty, and loyalty is easily thrown away, for a very small price. Benedict Arnold was once a hero of the burgeoning Revolution, until his faults made his name synonymous with being a traitor. The truth as usual is quite complicated. Historian and author Jack Kelly in God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man looks at the Arnold as a man who have gone down in history as a hero, but Arnold's inability to handle the slings and arrows of those he considered lesser people let him down a much darker path.
Benedict Arnold was born in a family that had a name and some prominence, but trouble was soon to ruin this idyllic life. As Arnold was learning to be a gentleman, the family suffered a series of deaths in the family, that drove Arnold's father to drink, and lose the family's fortune. Arnold soon had to give up schooling, and his dreams of college, something that bothered him the rest of his life, and begin an apprenticeship. Arnold was a hard worker, and a man not afraid to get his hands dirty, working his way up to being a merchant who traveled south to engage in trade, making the best deals he could, and dealing with both outfitting a ship, and a crew that could be sometimes a little rough. At the time of the Revolution, Arnold quickly used his skills to gather a troop of men with plans to go North dealing with forts, and later to seize Canada. Arnold's time as a merchant taught him how to equip men, deal with officers make decisions, and more importantly gather intelligence. Along the way Arnold rubbed some people wrong, wrong enough to spread rumors that would effect his career later. Arnold was a brave soldier, gaining respect for his care with his men, and even catching the eye of George Washington. However, Arnold had another skill, that of making enemies, which combined with an attitude that took any slight as a mortal insult, also hindered his advancement. And dark thoughts began to take hold.
An very good book about a very complicated man. Jack Kelly is very good at describing the man that Arnold was, a hero in many ways. Arnold did enter the war with the best of intentions. However his lack of people skills, and ability to grate on people, combined with his inability to handle any besmirching of his character was his biggest downfall. Seizing forts, building navies, leading troops, paying his men when they weren't being paid, Arnold really was a good leader. However politics is filled with good people, and pople who are not, and many did have gripes with Arnold. Kelly does a very good job of describing both the battles and infighting that Arnold found himself in, why and how he might have turned sides, and the sad life that followed. The writing is very good, exciting and informative, with no passages that seem to drag or slow the story. A very interesting look at a man who betrayed himself before he betrayed his country.
Recommended for history readers especially readers of the Revolutionary War. The battle descriptions along with the politics are very well written and gave a better understanding about Arnold. Also for people who like books on complicated people, and for those who want to understand why people do the things they do. M.I.C.E really does explain quite a bit about human behavior.
There is an acronym used by American intelligence to explain the motivations of why one would want to spy or become a traitor to one's home country. M. I. C. E. Money, Ideology, Coercion or Compromise, and finally Ego. When one looks at the current political landscape, and the news at night one can see how this is really a great summation of why people turn. Money makes the world go round, ideology can change with age, a strong supporter can see the cracks in belief as one gets older. Coercion and compromise can mean many things from threats to occupation, life or even family. Ego though. That's has brought down many a person, especially if one is always looking for slights, and dents to their self-esteem. Thinking one is the smartest, the bestest, the mega-something, makes one easy to fool if someone toadies up to them just right. Ego makes on feel they are bigger than loyalty, and loyalty is easily thrown away, for a very small price. Benedict Arnold was once a hero of the burgeoning Revolution, until his faults made his name synonymous with being a traitor. The truth as usual is quite complicated. Historian and author Jack Kelly in God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man looks at the Arnold as a man who have gone down in history as a hero, but Arnold's inability to handle the slings and arrows of those he considered lesser people let him down a much darker path.
Benedict Arnold was born in a family that had a name and some prominence, but trouble was soon to ruin this idyllic life. As Arnold was learning to be a gentleman, the family suffered a series of deaths in the family, that drove Arnold's father to drink, and lose the family's fortune. Arnold soon had to give up schooling, and his dreams of college, something that bothered him the rest of his life, and begin an apprenticeship. Arnold was a hard worker, and a man not afraid to get his hands dirty, working his way up to being a merchant who traveled south to engage in trade, making the best deals he could, and dealing with both outfitting a ship, and a crew that could be sometimes a little rough. At the time of the Revolution, Arnold quickly used his skills to gather a troop of men with plans to go North dealing with forts, and later to seize Canada. Arnold's time as a merchant taught him how to equip men, deal with officers make decisions, and more importantly gather intelligence. Along the way Arnold rubbed some people wrong, wrong enough to spread rumors that would effect his career later. Arnold was a brave soldier, gaining respect for his care with his men, and even catching the eye of George Washington. However, Arnold had another skill, that of making enemies, which combined with an attitude that took any slight as a mortal insult, also hindered his advancement. And dark thoughts began to take hold.
An very good book about a very complicated man. Jack Kelly is very good at describing the man that Arnold was, a hero in many ways. Arnold did enter the war with the best of intentions. However his lack of people skills, and ability to grate on people, combined with his inability to handle any besmirching of his character was his biggest downfall. Seizing forts, building navies, leading troops, paying his men when they weren't being paid, Arnold really was a good leader. However politics is filled with good people, and pople who are not, and many did have gripes with Arnold. Kelly does a very good job of describing both the battles and infighting that Arnold found himself in, why and how he might have turned sides, and the sad life that followed. The writing is very good, exciting and informative, with no passages that seem to drag or slow the story. A very interesting look at a man who betrayed himself before he betrayed his country.
Recommended for history readers especially readers of the Revolutionary War. The battle descriptions along with the politics are very well written and gave a better understanding about Arnold. Also for people who like books on complicated people, and for those who want to understand why people do the things they do. M.I.C.E really does explain quite a bit about human behavior.
January 27, 2026
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: Benedict Arnold committed treason—for more than two centuries, that’s all that most Americans have known about him.
Yet Arnold was much more than a turncoat—his achievements during the early years of the Revolutionary War defined him as the most successful soldier of the era. God Save Benedict Arnold tells the gripping story of Arnold’s rush of audacious feats—his capture of Fort Ticonderoga, his Maine mountain expedition to attack Quebec, the famous artillery brawl at Valcour Island, the turning-point battle at Saratoga—that laid the groundwork for our independence.
Arnold was a superb leader, a brilliant tactician, a supremely courageous military officer. He was also imperfect, disloyal, villainous. One of the most paradoxical characters in American history, and one of the most interesting. God Save Benedict Arnold does not exonerate him for his treason—the stain on his character is permanent. But Kelly’s insightful exploration of Arnold’s career as a warrior shines a new light on this gutsy, fearless, and enigmatic figure. In the process, the book offers a fresh perspective on the reasons for Arnold’s momentous change of heart.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I love this description of Benedict Arnold:
The man behind the victory detailed in Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Libertythe book reviewed above, and the consequential actions he committed later, comes fully alive in Author Kelly's telling of his subject's character. It's not a biography, in the sense that the focus is not on Arnold the man and his life, but a political biography of the deeds he did and the responses of others that impacted him for good and ill.
I was not at all familiar with the details of the very real grievances Arnold harbored against the men who, I agree, wronged and slighted him. I'm caught up with it now. As a person, the picture of Arnold that I got from the extensive quotations from period sources is of an eighteenth-century Elon Musk, someone who can make enemies much more readily than friends while delivering results. I suspect he was as thin-skinned as he comes across in these pages because he really was a better strategist than tactician.
Ultimately his rage-quit of the Revolutionary War was completely understandable, predictable and preventable. The mediocre men who resented him for his strengths handed him the rope he used to hang himself. His own angry demons led him to use it; what he gained was material, what he lost was the lasting capital of reputation.
As I've come to expect of Author Kelly, he uses period sources galore. I'm impressed with his notes because he is scrupulous in citing the sources of opinions not leaving us to wonder if this is his opinion or something considered to be fact in the period. When it's his opinion, I see it presented as such; when it's his analysis of period opinion the same applies.
I don't suddenly like this traitor to the cause of American independence. I do empathize with him, understand "why" better, and still disapprove of his actions. A man of such tremendous capability and capacity for foresight, undone by the niggling ugliness of his character flaws.
Where have we seen that story repeated here lately....
Not a five-star, blow-me-away read, but a much better than average, really interesting story about an unjustly reviled but still critically flawed man.
The Publisher Says: Benedict Arnold committed treason—for more than two centuries, that’s all that most Americans have known about him.
Yet Arnold was much more than a turncoat—his achievements during the early years of the Revolutionary War defined him as the most successful soldier of the era. God Save Benedict Arnold tells the gripping story of Arnold’s rush of audacious feats—his capture of Fort Ticonderoga, his Maine mountain expedition to attack Quebec, the famous artillery brawl at Valcour Island, the turning-point battle at Saratoga—that laid the groundwork for our independence.
Arnold was a superb leader, a brilliant tactician, a supremely courageous military officer. He was also imperfect, disloyal, villainous. One of the most paradoxical characters in American history, and one of the most interesting. God Save Benedict Arnold does not exonerate him for his treason—the stain on his character is permanent. But Kelly’s insightful exploration of Arnold’s career as a warrior shines a new light on this gutsy, fearless, and enigmatic figure. In the process, the book offers a fresh perspective on the reasons for Arnold’s momentous change of heart.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I love this description of Benedict Arnold:
In many ways, he was a typical American—cocky, restless, grasping, perpetually optimistic, quick to take offense. He was a vivid example of the self-reliance and rugged individualism that would be celebrated by Americans from Ralph Wales Emerson to Ronald Reagan. But self-reliance can beget arrogance.
The man behind the victory detailed in Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Libertythe book reviewed above, and the consequential actions he committed later, comes fully alive in Author Kelly's telling of his subject's character. It's not a biography, in the sense that the focus is not on Arnold the man and his life, but a political biography of the deeds he did and the responses of others that impacted him for good and ill.
I was not at all familiar with the details of the very real grievances Arnold harbored against the men who, I agree, wronged and slighted him. I'm caught up with it now. As a person, the picture of Arnold that I got from the extensive quotations from period sources is of an eighteenth-century Elon Musk, someone who can make enemies much more readily than friends while delivering results. I suspect he was as thin-skinned as he comes across in these pages because he really was a better strategist than tactician.
Ultimately his rage-quit of the Revolutionary War was completely understandable, predictable and preventable. The mediocre men who resented him for his strengths handed him the rope he used to hang himself. His own angry demons led him to use it; what he gained was material, what he lost was the lasting capital of reputation.
As I've come to expect of Author Kelly, he uses period sources galore. I'm impressed with his notes because he is scrupulous in citing the sources of opinions not leaving us to wonder if this is his opinion or something considered to be fact in the period. When it's his opinion, I see it presented as such; when it's his analysis of period opinion the same applies.
I don't suddenly like this traitor to the cause of American independence. I do empathize with him, understand "why" better, and still disapprove of his actions. A man of such tremendous capability and capacity for foresight, undone by the niggling ugliness of his character flaws.
Where have we seen that story repeated here lately....
Not a five-star, blow-me-away read, but a much better than average, really interesting story about an unjustly reviled but still critically flawed man.
July 8, 2025
Gack!
Early on, I thought I might have something.
But then, running into purplish prose, in one case melded with an outright military error of fact, or rather a set of errors of fact, I knew I had a problem.
The purplish prose got worse, and then, it turns out Kelly devotes almost nothing to Arnold's post-Saratoga wounding before the actual treason.
Add in that Kelly contradicts himself on why Arnold did it, and I thought —
"You know, there are several one-star ratings. but no one-star reviews, and I think this book needs one!"
Let's dig in.
This new Benedict Arnold bio is good but not too detailed on his early life, and decent on the 1775 Quebec campaign
BUT? The prose gets purplish at times — and inaccurate along with that. On the Valcour Island battle, for example, page 119:
“Iron balls flew past at supersonic speeds.”
WRONG! The velocity of a Brown Bess is listed at 1,000 fps by many sites and testers. Speed of sound in air under normal atmosphere at 20°C? 1,125 fps. That, combined with the purplishness which had been mounting, gets a ding right there. (I was reading in bed when I saw this claim, but I was pretty sure right away that was wrong and looked it up the nest morning.) Sadfly, Google’s AI gets it wrong and claims it WAS supersonic.
Per this link, which doesn’t have the Brown Bess, but on this forum, one poster discusses US Army 1861 Ordinance manual and even later muskets were for the most part below 1,100 fps.
Also, with weather at Valcour, it probably wasn’t even that good.
Muskets didn't fire iron balls either, and Kelly’s language implies he’s talking about them, not swivel guns, let alone the few other naval guns.
That said? A swivel gun either fired musket balls for case or iron balls for grape. Swivel guns' muzzle velocity in this era were about the same as a Brown Bess.
And, per a 3-star reviewer, if there’s a lot of duplicate info from Kelly’s book about the Valcour battle, then there’s likely errors in that one, too.
As the prose got more purplish after this “a village of 1,700 souls” pg 144, or “just the sound of (6-pounders’) gut-punching booms was enough to unnerve a man” 191, or “by five p.m. the sun was dropping toward the west, its face a red disk through the battlefield smoke,” and I had heard that he doesn’t actually say that much about Arnold outside of battles later and I accelerated my grokking. (I am reminded of a MASH episode in which Radar punched up his daily reports because he was taking a correspondence court in creative writing.)
The last paragraph on page 217? Oh boy.
The “Downfall” doesn’t start until page 233 in a book that ends on 269. Everything post-Saratoga and pre-West Point about Arnold is skipped, only for a brief back-cut after Washington et al arrive at West Point. And, with that, background on Arnold that might contradict Kelly’s thesis on why he committed treason is also skipped.
The “why” chapter within that? Less than 15 pages. Kelly, ignoring that Arnold couldn’t provide Peggy Shippen with the original land he wanted, claims “he juggled debt and credit with a practiced hand.” I don’t think greed was the only thing, but do believe it was stronger than Kelly thinks.
He ignores other things, such as Arnold already being under suspicion by the likes of Nathaniel Greene in late 1778. Even worse, he ignores that Arnold was giving the British info about US troops a full year before his skedaddle down the Hudson, and that, when he did get to West Point, not only did he not improve its defenses, he started systemically weakening them.
So, this was long and ongoing.
Finally?
The idea that the violence of risk was a motivation since he was “disabled from sharing in the transcendence of battle”? A LAUGH, especially as it comes AFTER Kelly mentions Arnold’s post-treason service in the “transcendence of battle” for the British in both Connecticut and Virginia — leading troops in the field. (In addition, Kelly notes that Arnold had also asked Washington to try to get him a ship's captaincy, which would have put him in the deep sea "field" for the naval version of "transcendence of battle."
And, between the purplish prose and the military errors, I recommend against reading Kelly in general.
And, while I'm here, Brendan the History Nerd Toddler gets this the most wrong of books we've both read. He ignores the purplish prose, is too lazy to see Kelly's error on muzzle speed or what type of ball a musket fires, and gives Kelly an unwarranted pass on addressing the why issue, and it's unwarranted because neither title nor subtitle say this is a military history.
Worse YET? Per his website? The Nerd Toddler is a tanker (that sense) who went to the Point. If you:
A. Can't pick up such basic errors of military history;
B. Won't object to purplish prose about the battlefield when you should know better;
C. Know what military history is, and is not, and give a pass on that?
SMH.
Early on, I thought I might have something.
But then, running into purplish prose, in one case melded with an outright military error of fact, or rather a set of errors of fact, I knew I had a problem.
The purplish prose got worse, and then, it turns out Kelly devotes almost nothing to Arnold's post-Saratoga wounding before the actual treason.
Add in that Kelly contradicts himself on why Arnold did it, and I thought —
"You know, there are several one-star ratings. but no one-star reviews, and I think this book needs one!"
Let's dig in.
This new Benedict Arnold bio is good but not too detailed on his early life, and decent on the 1775 Quebec campaign
BUT? The prose gets purplish at times — and inaccurate along with that. On the Valcour Island battle, for example, page 119:
“Iron balls flew past at supersonic speeds.”
WRONG! The velocity of a Brown Bess is listed at 1,000 fps by many sites and testers. Speed of sound in air under normal atmosphere at 20°C? 1,125 fps. That, combined with the purplishness which had been mounting, gets a ding right there. (I was reading in bed when I saw this claim, but I was pretty sure right away that was wrong and looked it up the nest morning.) Sadfly, Google’s AI gets it wrong and claims it WAS supersonic.
Per this link, which doesn’t have the Brown Bess, but on this forum, one poster discusses US Army 1861 Ordinance manual and even later muskets were for the most part below 1,100 fps.
Also, with weather at Valcour, it probably wasn’t even that good.
Muskets didn't fire iron balls either, and Kelly’s language implies he’s talking about them, not swivel guns, let alone the few other naval guns.
That said? A swivel gun either fired musket balls for case or iron balls for grape. Swivel guns' muzzle velocity in this era were about the same as a Brown Bess.
And, per a 3-star reviewer, if there’s a lot of duplicate info from Kelly’s book about the Valcour battle, then there’s likely errors in that one, too.
As the prose got more purplish after this “a village of 1,700 souls” pg 144, or “just the sound of (6-pounders’) gut-punching booms was enough to unnerve a man” 191, or “by five p.m. the sun was dropping toward the west, its face a red disk through the battlefield smoke,” and I had heard that he doesn’t actually say that much about Arnold outside of battles later and I accelerated my grokking. (I am reminded of a MASH episode in which Radar punched up his daily reports because he was taking a correspondence court in creative writing.)
The last paragraph on page 217? Oh boy.
The “Downfall” doesn’t start until page 233 in a book that ends on 269. Everything post-Saratoga and pre-West Point about Arnold is skipped, only for a brief back-cut after Washington et al arrive at West Point. And, with that, background on Arnold that might contradict Kelly’s thesis on why he committed treason is also skipped.
The “why” chapter within that? Less than 15 pages. Kelly, ignoring that Arnold couldn’t provide Peggy Shippen with the original land he wanted, claims “he juggled debt and credit with a practiced hand.” I don’t think greed was the only thing, but do believe it was stronger than Kelly thinks.
He ignores other things, such as Arnold already being under suspicion by the likes of Nathaniel Greene in late 1778. Even worse, he ignores that Arnold was giving the British info about US troops a full year before his skedaddle down the Hudson, and that, when he did get to West Point, not only did he not improve its defenses, he started systemically weakening them.
So, this was long and ongoing.
Finally?
The idea that the violence of risk was a motivation since he was “disabled from sharing in the transcendence of battle”? A LAUGH, especially as it comes AFTER Kelly mentions Arnold’s post-treason service in the “transcendence of battle” for the British in both Connecticut and Virginia — leading troops in the field. (In addition, Kelly notes that Arnold had also asked Washington to try to get him a ship's captaincy, which would have put him in the deep sea "field" for the naval version of "transcendence of battle."
And, between the purplish prose and the military errors, I recommend against reading Kelly in general.
And, while I'm here, Brendan the History Nerd Toddler gets this the most wrong of books we've both read. He ignores the purplish prose, is too lazy to see Kelly's error on muzzle speed or what type of ball a musket fires, and gives Kelly an unwarranted pass on addressing the why issue, and it's unwarranted because neither title nor subtitle say this is a military history.
Worse YET? Per his website? The Nerd Toddler is a tanker (that sense) who went to the Point. If you:
A. Can't pick up such basic errors of military history;
B. Won't object to purplish prose about the battlefield when you should know better;
C. Know what military history is, and is not, and give a pass on that?
SMH.
September 23, 2023
One of the great might-have-been issues in history is the American conquest of Canada. I don't know if there is, right now, an invasion plan sitting in a disused file cabinet of the Pentagon for such thing. WAR PLAN: MAPLE SYRUP ALPHA, something like that. I mean, you never know.
It's probably not possible today. I mean, you'd like to think the American military could make short work of the Canadians, but then you'd have to have an extended occupation, teaching 38 million people that a proper football field is 100 yards, how market-based competition can lower health-care costs, and how to spell "defense" and all of that other stuff you'd have to do. But it could have been done earlier in our shared histories, and was tried, although never successfully.
The spine of Jack Kelly's GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD is one of the more whimsical attempts to conquer the Great White North, with Benedict Arnold leading a force of New England patriots and Virginia backwoodsmen across the Maine wilderness to invest Quebec City. I just looked that up on Google Maps, and that's a seven-hour drive up I-95, and I can't imagine driving that far, much less walking it, much less doing so when Maine was basically uninhabited. It was a hare-brained scheme, and any normal average person would have chosen any of a hundred opportunities to quit and turn back the other way and put their feet up and read a nice book and drink some hot chocolate. (Actually, it's raining now where I live in New Jersey and that sounds like a plan once I finish writing this here review.)
Benedict Arnold was not a normal person. He led the remnant of his ragged, hurricane-battered force all the way to the Plains of Abraham, only to be foiled by the quick thinking of a Redcoat officer who somehow intuited that the rebels might try such a thing. And you can look at that and say "heroism," and you wouldn't maybe be that far wrong, but maybe more of it is that Benedict Arnold was a stubborn Puritan son-of-a-gun who wanted to get in a scrap and would walk all the way across New England to get in one.
Kelly's thesis is twofold: that Benedict Arnold was a fighting man, a canny strategist and a charismatic leader, capable and dogged; and also that he was a touchy, thin-skinned insubordinate egomaniac who couldn't stop himself from running his mouth and getting into trouble. We remember Arnold for his treason, Kelly argues, but there was a lot that happened before the treason that resounds to Arnold's eternal credit. (You might think we also remember Arnold for Eggs Benedict, but that was some other fellow.)
Would we remember Arnold fondly if he had not turned traitor? Likely not. His early seizure of Fort Ticonderoga was important, the Quebec campaign was a slow-motion disaster, but he helped to turn the tide at Lake Champlain and fought bravely at Saratoga. In a country where 90% of the people can't name a sitting Supreme Court justice, maybe that makes the grade, maybe it doesn't. Kelly makes the point that maybe it should, that Arnold was a complicated man fighting in a cause for which he had already turned traitor. However you come down on the issue, this is an excellent read and illuminates some dark corners of the Revolution.
It's probably not possible today. I mean, you'd like to think the American military could make short work of the Canadians, but then you'd have to have an extended occupation, teaching 38 million people that a proper football field is 100 yards, how market-based competition can lower health-care costs, and how to spell "defense" and all of that other stuff you'd have to do. But it could have been done earlier in our shared histories, and was tried, although never successfully.
The spine of Jack Kelly's GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD is one of the more whimsical attempts to conquer the Great White North, with Benedict Arnold leading a force of New England patriots and Virginia backwoodsmen across the Maine wilderness to invest Quebec City. I just looked that up on Google Maps, and that's a seven-hour drive up I-95, and I can't imagine driving that far, much less walking it, much less doing so when Maine was basically uninhabited. It was a hare-brained scheme, and any normal average person would have chosen any of a hundred opportunities to quit and turn back the other way and put their feet up and read a nice book and drink some hot chocolate. (Actually, it's raining now where I live in New Jersey and that sounds like a plan once I finish writing this here review.)
Benedict Arnold was not a normal person. He led the remnant of his ragged, hurricane-battered force all the way to the Plains of Abraham, only to be foiled by the quick thinking of a Redcoat officer who somehow intuited that the rebels might try such a thing. And you can look at that and say "heroism," and you wouldn't maybe be that far wrong, but maybe more of it is that Benedict Arnold was a stubborn Puritan son-of-a-gun who wanted to get in a scrap and would walk all the way across New England to get in one.
Kelly's thesis is twofold: that Benedict Arnold was a fighting man, a canny strategist and a charismatic leader, capable and dogged; and also that he was a touchy, thin-skinned insubordinate egomaniac who couldn't stop himself from running his mouth and getting into trouble. We remember Arnold for his treason, Kelly argues, but there was a lot that happened before the treason that resounds to Arnold's eternal credit. (You might think we also remember Arnold for Eggs Benedict, but that was some other fellow.)
Would we remember Arnold fondly if he had not turned traitor? Likely not. His early seizure of Fort Ticonderoga was important, the Quebec campaign was a slow-motion disaster, but he helped to turn the tide at Lake Champlain and fought bravely at Saratoga. In a country where 90% of the people can't name a sitting Supreme Court justice, maybe that makes the grade, maybe it doesn't. Kelly makes the point that maybe it should, that Arnold was a complicated man fighting in a cause for which he had already turned traitor. However you come down on the issue, this is an excellent read and illuminates some dark corners of the Revolution.
December 15, 2023
Ask Americans who Benedict Arnold was and just about every one of them will know that he was a traitor to America during the Revolutionary War. But unless they are students of the Revolutionary time period, they may not realize that Arnold was a well-regarded and accomplished Revolutionary War hero before he betrayed the new nation.
In fact, he was one of our most successful war leaders, taking the fight to the British in Canada, then fending off a British invasion from there. He also played a critical role at the battle of Saratoga, a turning point in the war and the first time an entire British army had surrendered.
Historian and author Jack Kelly says at the start of the book that Americans “have hated Benedict Arnold for 250 years”, as he gives us a chance to take another look at both the good and bad of a man whose name is synonymous with “traitor”.
You can find other books, like Nathaniel Philbrick’s Valiant Ambition, that cover much of the same subject matter as God Save Benedict Arnold . Philbrick’s book, like all his books, is an excellent read, but it is a history not a biography of Arnold as Kelly’s book is.
In Kelly’s account we follow Arnold from his boyhood to his days of business success as a high seas trader, and then right onto the battlefields of the Revolution. He puts us at the scene as Arnold narrowly escapes death or serious injury in countless clashes with the British. He provides insights into Arnold’s genius at battle, both in planning and in taking advantage of opportunities once the battle has been joined.
Arnold’s prickly pride and quickness to take offense are also on full display in Kelly’s book. His pride was often wounded by the actions of the Continental Congress, which kept for itself the prerogative of promoting and awarding the officers of the Continental Army. Congress was full of men who did not know battle, and their rationale for their dealings with the Army’s generals were often at odds with the feelings of those leaders - up to and including George Washington himself. Congress’s actions in not promoting Arnold, while they did promote others around him, is seen by many historians as a major contributing factor (given Arnold’s prickly pride) to his eventually turning traitor. In this Kelly seems to particularly blame John Adams.
This is an excellent book, but if Kelly’s hope was that the reader might feel more sympathy for Arnold after reading it, I’m not quite sure he succeeds. Knowing more of his contributions, and the crucial nature of his successes for the American side before he agreed to spy for the British gives me more of an understanding, not less, for why Americans have hated Arnold for 250 years.
RATING: Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating Comment: A well written and easy to read biography of Benedict Arnold. Worth reading for those who don’t have an understanding of Arnold’s contributions to the Revolution, or those looking for a refresher on the events in the northern colonies during the Revolution.
NOTE: I read an advanced ebook copy courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. The book became available to the public December 5, 2023.
In fact, he was one of our most successful war leaders, taking the fight to the British in Canada, then fending off a British invasion from there. He also played a critical role at the battle of Saratoga, a turning point in the war and the first time an entire British army had surrendered.
Historian and author Jack Kelly says at the start of the book that Americans “have hated Benedict Arnold for 250 years”, as he gives us a chance to take another look at both the good and bad of a man whose name is synonymous with “traitor”.
You can find other books, like Nathaniel Philbrick’s Valiant Ambition, that cover much of the same subject matter as God Save Benedict Arnold . Philbrick’s book, like all his books, is an excellent read, but it is a history not a biography of Arnold as Kelly’s book is.
In Kelly’s account we follow Arnold from his boyhood to his days of business success as a high seas trader, and then right onto the battlefields of the Revolution. He puts us at the scene as Arnold narrowly escapes death or serious injury in countless clashes with the British. He provides insights into Arnold’s genius at battle, both in planning and in taking advantage of opportunities once the battle has been joined.
Arnold’s prickly pride and quickness to take offense are also on full display in Kelly’s book. His pride was often wounded by the actions of the Continental Congress, which kept for itself the prerogative of promoting and awarding the officers of the Continental Army. Congress was full of men who did not know battle, and their rationale for their dealings with the Army’s generals were often at odds with the feelings of those leaders - up to and including George Washington himself. Congress’s actions in not promoting Arnold, while they did promote others around him, is seen by many historians as a major contributing factor (given Arnold’s prickly pride) to his eventually turning traitor. In this Kelly seems to particularly blame John Adams.
This is an excellent book, but if Kelly’s hope was that the reader might feel more sympathy for Arnold after reading it, I’m not quite sure he succeeds. Knowing more of his contributions, and the crucial nature of his successes for the American side before he agreed to spy for the British gives me more of an understanding, not less, for why Americans have hated Arnold for 250 years.
RATING: Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating Comment: A well written and easy to read biography of Benedict Arnold. Worth reading for those who don’t have an understanding of Arnold’s contributions to the Revolution, or those looking for a refresher on the events in the northern colonies during the Revolution.
NOTE: I read an advanced ebook copy courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. The book became available to the public December 5, 2023.
December 10, 2023
Award-winning author Jack Kelly has set his sights on a man whose very name traditionally has been synonymous with betrayal: Benedict Arnold.
Arnold was born in the American colonies to a family of British immigrants. His father inherited little but gained much as a merchant. However, he later slipped into alcohol addiction, which forced Arnold to abandon his hopes for higher education and work as a tradesman, at which he seemed destined to succeed. Much of his youthful years were filled with a sense of tension about what seemed like an inevitable revolution.
At age 34, Arnold drew together a voluntary militia unit in his home region of New Haven and was much admired for his fiery determination. Once his participation in the war was made official, he was involved in key battles at Lexington, Concord and Ticonderoga, taking a leading role in the latter. But his difficult personality garnered criticism among his fellow officers, though the men he led retained admiration for him.
Arnold did not gain the recognition that he craved, but he did have a comradely relationship with President George Washington. Believing Arnold to possess “resourcefulness and imagination,” Washington gave him the role of colonel in the newly formed Continental Army. But then Arnold, who had taken a second wife (the daughter of a British Loyalist clan), was assigned the protection of West Point. There he embarked on covert, treasonous actions with a co-conspirator, John André, revealing his intention to switch sides in a hard-fought war. Once the treachery was discovered, Arnold had joined with the British military, while André was caught and swiftly hanged as a traitor. Arnold served with the British, and after the war ended, he moved to England where he remained until his death.
Kelly has presented his main characters in a new light. Washington is a sterling leader who did what had to be done, censoring Arnold as was needed, in a judicious manner. Arnold is the victim of a fraught, difficult childhood whose frustrations and losses gave him greater determination to succeed, even if it meant betraying the nascent nation he had been assigned to defend.
In a closing chapter, Kelly allows readers the latitude to consider thoughtfully if Arnold was a traitor to be scorned or an unusual exemplar of the American spirit --- gritty, entrepreneurial and staunchly independent. He concludes that Arnold will always be “an enigma, his motives lost in the impenetrable alchemy of the human heart.”
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
Arnold was born in the American colonies to a family of British immigrants. His father inherited little but gained much as a merchant. However, he later slipped into alcohol addiction, which forced Arnold to abandon his hopes for higher education and work as a tradesman, at which he seemed destined to succeed. Much of his youthful years were filled with a sense of tension about what seemed like an inevitable revolution.
At age 34, Arnold drew together a voluntary militia unit in his home region of New Haven and was much admired for his fiery determination. Once his participation in the war was made official, he was involved in key battles at Lexington, Concord and Ticonderoga, taking a leading role in the latter. But his difficult personality garnered criticism among his fellow officers, though the men he led retained admiration for him.
Arnold did not gain the recognition that he craved, but he did have a comradely relationship with President George Washington. Believing Arnold to possess “resourcefulness and imagination,” Washington gave him the role of colonel in the newly formed Continental Army. But then Arnold, who had taken a second wife (the daughter of a British Loyalist clan), was assigned the protection of West Point. There he embarked on covert, treasonous actions with a co-conspirator, John André, revealing his intention to switch sides in a hard-fought war. Once the treachery was discovered, Arnold had joined with the British military, while André was caught and swiftly hanged as a traitor. Arnold served with the British, and after the war ended, he moved to England where he remained until his death.
Kelly has presented his main characters in a new light. Washington is a sterling leader who did what had to be done, censoring Arnold as was needed, in a judicious manner. Arnold is the victim of a fraught, difficult childhood whose frustrations and losses gave him greater determination to succeed, even if it meant betraying the nascent nation he had been assigned to defend.
In a closing chapter, Kelly allows readers the latitude to consider thoughtfully if Arnold was a traitor to be scorned or an unusual exemplar of the American spirit --- gritty, entrepreneurial and staunchly independent. He concludes that Arnold will always be “an enigma, his motives lost in the impenetrable alchemy of the human heart.”
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
May 10, 2023
"God Save Benedict Arnold" by Jack Kelly is not only a first-rate biography of the heroic Revolutionary War American General who ended his service by betraying his country, it is also a fascinating history of the engagements in which Arnold was involved.
Through Kelly’s descriptions of Arnold’s daredevil, danger-loving childhood, his brief militia service in the French and Indian War, his adventurous life at sea as a merchant/trader, and his leadership of a Connecticut militia unit that immediately marched to Cambridge, MA upon hearing of Lexington and Concord, we get to know something of the arrogant, contentious, heroic, and inspiring young man. It’s when he reaches Cambridge that his career really takes off. The Americans need cannons and Arnold knows where they can be had: at New York's Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga. Appointed Colonel of a Massachusetts regiment, he leads six hundred men into New York and, along with Ethan Allen, captures the vital artillery.
Mr. Kelly goes on to write of Arnold’s bravery and extraordinary leadership during a march into Canada and in actions at Quebec, Valcour Island/Lake Champlain, Ridgefield, Fort Stanwix, and Saratoga, to mention a few. These battles were so well described that I could almost feel the winter cold at Quebec and smell the gunpowder smoke and the blood of the wounded at Saratoga.
Mr. Kelly fully discusses Arnold’s treason and offers a number of possible reasons as to why Arnold might have “turned his coat” to become a British general and fight against the men he once led.
He concludes by describing Arnold’s somewhat unhappy post-war life with his family in London--where he was admired by some but avoided by others--and Canada, where he was roundly disliked, occasioning his return to London where he died.
Throughout America’s history, Benedict Arnold has been so detested and reviled for his treason that it’s all anyone thinks of upon hearing his name (which has become an eponym for disloyalty). While Mr. Kelly in no way excuses that treason, he does manage to bring Benedict Arnold to life as a very talented, brave, and charismatic leader who, despite his perfidy, made a significant contribution to the American war effort.
Through Kelly’s descriptions of Arnold’s daredevil, danger-loving childhood, his brief militia service in the French and Indian War, his adventurous life at sea as a merchant/trader, and his leadership of a Connecticut militia unit that immediately marched to Cambridge, MA upon hearing of Lexington and Concord, we get to know something of the arrogant, contentious, heroic, and inspiring young man. It’s when he reaches Cambridge that his career really takes off. The Americans need cannons and Arnold knows where they can be had: at New York's Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga. Appointed Colonel of a Massachusetts regiment, he leads six hundred men into New York and, along with Ethan Allen, captures the vital artillery.
Mr. Kelly goes on to write of Arnold’s bravery and extraordinary leadership during a march into Canada and in actions at Quebec, Valcour Island/Lake Champlain, Ridgefield, Fort Stanwix, and Saratoga, to mention a few. These battles were so well described that I could almost feel the winter cold at Quebec and smell the gunpowder smoke and the blood of the wounded at Saratoga.
Mr. Kelly fully discusses Arnold’s treason and offers a number of possible reasons as to why Arnold might have “turned his coat” to become a British general and fight against the men he once led.
He concludes by describing Arnold’s somewhat unhappy post-war life with his family in London--where he was admired by some but avoided by others--and Canada, where he was roundly disliked, occasioning his return to London where he died.
Throughout America’s history, Benedict Arnold has been so detested and reviled for his treason that it’s all anyone thinks of upon hearing his name (which has become an eponym for disloyalty). While Mr. Kelly in no way excuses that treason, he does manage to bring Benedict Arnold to life as a very talented, brave, and charismatic leader who, despite his perfidy, made a significant contribution to the American war effort.
March 20, 2025
Fact: Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country. Period. Every student learns it, as sure as they learn George Washington is the father of it, from their first exposure to American history. The details - that Arnold, fed up with the lack of recognition and appreciation he felt he was due from his countrymen, negotiated with the British to surrender a weakened West Point in exchange for a military commission and money (of course!) - are often less forthcoming, but confirm the general's unenviable place in history.
Jack Kelly does not dispute any of this, makes no attempt to. Kelly does, however, put a human aspect on it, reminding the reader that, before he so momentously betrayed America, Arnold was one of its most beloved heroes. His march with others from New Haven to Cambridge in the days and weeks following the fighting at Lexington and Concord - as so many others from so many communities across the colonies were doing - led to significant roles in the events at Fort Ticonderoga, Quebec, and, especially, Saratoga, where the tide began to turn in the colonies' favor - and where Arnold suffered a leg injury that would plague him for the rest of his life. Arnold's leadership and heroism here makes his betrayal that much more stunning, that much more heinous.
Kelly is a brilliant writer. His language is sensory, his account riveting. Arnold is revealed, from his boyhood, as fun-loving, risk-taking, death-defying to the point of reckless - an A-male if ever there was one. But the reader also comes to see the general as self-centered, craving the good life, the money needed to fund it, and the recognition that ought to come with it. When it doesn't come as quickly as he would like, Arnold, believing it will never come, commits his treason.
With the 250th anniversary of the fighting at Lexington and Concord almost upon us, this book is a vivid reminder of what brought Revolution upon us in the first place, what sacrificing lives, fortunes, and sacred honor really means, and how one man, who might otherwise have been one of our greatest heroes, lost sight of that.
Jack Kelly does not dispute any of this, makes no attempt to. Kelly does, however, put a human aspect on it, reminding the reader that, before he so momentously betrayed America, Arnold was one of its most beloved heroes. His march with others from New Haven to Cambridge in the days and weeks following the fighting at Lexington and Concord - as so many others from so many communities across the colonies were doing - led to significant roles in the events at Fort Ticonderoga, Quebec, and, especially, Saratoga, where the tide began to turn in the colonies' favor - and where Arnold suffered a leg injury that would plague him for the rest of his life. Arnold's leadership and heroism here makes his betrayal that much more stunning, that much more heinous.
Kelly is a brilliant writer. His language is sensory, his account riveting. Arnold is revealed, from his boyhood, as fun-loving, risk-taking, death-defying to the point of reckless - an A-male if ever there was one. But the reader also comes to see the general as self-centered, craving the good life, the money needed to fund it, and the recognition that ought to come with it. When it doesn't come as quickly as he would like, Arnold, believing it will never come, commits his treason.
With the 250th anniversary of the fighting at Lexington and Concord almost upon us, this book is a vivid reminder of what brought Revolution upon us in the first place, what sacrificing lives, fortunes, and sacred honor really means, and how one man, who might otherwise have been one of our greatest heroes, lost sight of that.
October 12, 2023
In the vein of the current trend of telling a story from the villain’s perspective, Jack Kelly takes on the nonfiction account of America’s most notorious villain, the traitor, Benedict Arnold. And just like fictional retellings, real life proves just as complicated. Arnold, like all people, had his weaknesses. Readers will quickly pick up on his thin skin and desire to be respected and perceived as genteel. His tendency to butt heads with important people and lack of charisma (along with being a self made man lacking the right connections) likely set him down a contentious path with the Continental Congress, who was in charge of military promotions, not George Washington. Being denied promotion and having subordinates promoted over him would have been a blow to any person’s pride, but for someone with his personality it was likely crushing. This book is a great reminder of everything he was involved in to support the patriots before his betrayal. I will admit that the transition from patriot to traitor feels abrupt in this book, and I wonder if that is because so little documentation exists of his thoughts that there may be no way to ever know how abrupt or gradual his decision was. With as ardent a supporter of the cause as Arnold was initially, it couldn’t help but lead me to wonder what would have happened if someone like George Washington had been dismissed the way Arnold was despite his achievements. The two men got along very well before Arnold defected. Or what if Arnold had received the accolades he deserved for his accomplishments early during the war? Or if he hadn’t of been severely injured and put in a state of idleness and a location that might have pushed him over the edge for the attention he sought. Reading history books is great, but reading ones that prompt you to imagine an alternate path of history itself are even better. I really enjoyed reading the story of the notorious and perhaps misunderstood Benedict Arnold. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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