Jeffrey’s review of Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring > Likes and Comments

I'm so glad someone else is taking "Peggy" to task! I was shocked to discover her role in it all when I read Chernow's Washington bio. Great summary and review, as always.

Excellent review- so much detail in this for readers who want history straight from records and research, and not interpreted history.

Now I have another book on my list. Interesting stuff. Thank you.

What a marvelous review! Fascinating detail. Thank you.

So informative. Superb review as always Jeffrey.

Mara wrote: "I'm so glad someone else is taking "Peggy" to task! I was shocked to discover her role in it all when I read Chernow's Washington bio. Great summary and review, as always."

Peggy had her agenda and may have been more concerned about her "lovers" career than her husbands. She couldn't have been very happy about the money that Arnold spent for the cause that was not being reimbursed to them. Thanks Mara.

Jeanette wrote: "Excellent review- so much detail in this for readers who want history straight from records and research, and not interpreted history."

Thanks Jeanette! I added in more detail about the Arnold situation than what was presented in this book. I almost reviewed two books in one review.

Benjamin wrote: "Now I have another book on my list. Interesting stuff. Thank you."

I'm a sucker for spy stuff during any conflict. I've had this book for several years, but with the TV series on I felt inspired to finally get it read. Books like these make me just a tad bit smarter. Thanks Benjamin!

Lela wrote: "What a marvelous review! Fascinating detail. Thank you."

Thank you Lela! Much more was covered in the book. You are most welcome.

Arah-Lynda wrote: "So informative. Superb review as always Jeffrey."

Thank you Arah-Lynda! I'm like the windy uncle at dinner. PSST don't ask Uncle Jeffrey ANYTHING about history. :-)

Jeffrey wrote: "Arah-Lynda wrote: "So informative. Superb review as always Jeffrey."

Thank you Arah-Lynda! I'm like the windy uncle at dinner. PSST don't ask Uncle Jeffrey ANYTHING about history. :-)"

Were I a guest at your table I would most definitely ask.

Excellent review, Jeffrey. I agree with the earlier commenters about your great attention to detail. If I ever find myself in need of a history lesson, I now know whom to seek out.

Thanks to your very informative, well worded review, I so have to read this. Referring to our previous conversation, my education begins! Thanks, Jeffrey, excellent review as always.

Arah-Lynda wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "Arah-Lynda wrote: "So informative. Superb review as always Jeffrey."

Thank you Arah-Lynda! I'm like the windy uncle at dinner. PSST don't ask Uncle Jeffrey ANYTHING about history...."

:-)

Robert wrote: "Excellent review, Jeffrey. I agree with the earlier commenters about your great attention to detail. If I ever find myself in need of a history lesson, I now know whom to seek out."

Thank you Robert. The subject of history is inexhaustible to me. It continues to fascinate me as I continue to expose myself to more and more pieces of it.

B3tt3 Booklover wrote: "Thanks to your very informative, well worded review, I so have to read this. Referring to our previous conversation, my education begins! Thanks, Jeffrey, excellent review as always."

Thanks Bette! I had almost as much fun writing the review as reading the book.

How long before political correctness removes this statue too?

Gary wrote: "How long before political correctness removes this statue too?"

Hmmm is Nathan Hale not PC?

I had a college prof who told us how Nathan Hale was in a play as a schoolboy and one of the lines he had in the role he was playing was: "If I had but one life to give for my country, give me liberty or give me death." --- Any mention of this bit of history in the book?

Nice review, BTW!

I read Benedict Arnold's Navy 10 years ago and I couldn't believe how great a general he was. Philbrick's Valiant Ambition also chronicled other heroic accomplishments. If he only would have been killed or died of his wounds at Saratoga. He may have been the best general officer on both sides....However, Philbrick also tells the story of what Arnold the traitor and what he tried to pull off. Quite a dichotomy. He would of been the #2 hero of the Revolution had he only would have died at Saratoga.

Glenn wrote: "I had a college prof who told us how Nathan Hale was in a play as a schoolboy and one of the lines he had in the role he was playing was: "If I had but one life to give for my country, give me libe..."

No, but this has a broader story than Hale so no mention of that neat tidbit. It smacks of George Washington and the cherry tree, but who knows history is full of strange facts and coincidences. Thanks Glenn!

Sweetwilliam wrote: "I read Benedict Arnold's Navy 10 years ago and I couldn't believe how great a general he was. Philbrick's Valiant Ambition also chronicled other heroic accomplishments. If he only would have been k..."

I read the Philbrick book and have read other books about Arnold. He is such a tragic figure. At least his leg is immortalized at Saratoga in a statue. I was able to discuss some of what you are bringing up here in my Philbrick review. Arnold is a fascinating man. He would have had schools, and children named after him for hundreds of years if he'd stayed with the cause. Thanks Sweetwilliam!

Yes, I read your review and I agree 100% with what you wrote.

Es increíble lo que puede adentrarse señor con nosotros

Lo as leído alguna vez su que tonta si estoy siendo sincera digámoslo usted creo este libro si o no

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa losciento mucho por haberle hablado así me disculpa señor Dios de las tierras eternas usted es el rey de todo o sino el rey de cada cosa del universo eterno

Me disculpo por lo que use señor muchas gracias por entenderme

Lo siento pero me tengo que ir gracias

Sweetwilliam wrote: "Yes, I read your review and I agree 100% with what you wrote."

Thumbs up Sir!

Eduardo Maulini wrote: "Lo as leído alguna vez su que tonta si estoy siendo sincera digámoslo usted creo este libro si o no"

I wrote the review not the book Eduardo.

So interesting!!

Rose wrote: "So interesting!!"

Thanks Rose!

If his service to his country had been properly recognized. If congress hadn’t been actively trying to destroy his life even to the point of bringing fraudulent charges against him there is no doubt in my mind that he would have stayed a patriot.

Why was he treated this way?

As always, this was very interesting and insightful review. :) I love you <3

Yes fascinating. Another added to my list-- thanks Jeffrey. Wonderful review!

realy a very good reviev

Vessey wrote: "If his service to his country had been properly recognized. If congress hadn’t been actively trying to destroy his life even to the point of bringing fraudulent charges against him there is no doub..."

That is called making powerful enemies my dear. Arnold was a vibrant, successful, and arrogant man who rubbed people the wrong way to the point where some, even though they were on the same side, worked actively against him. They were small minded men who didn't realize that Arnold was an even bigger pain in the ass to the British than he was them. His bravery at Saratoga ranks as one of the most important moments in American history in my opinion. Right up there with Chamberlain on Little Round Top at Gettysburg.

Stacy wrote: "Yes fascinating. Another added to my list-- thanks Jeffrey. Wonderful review!"

This is an interesting piece of American history that I needed to know more about. Thanks Stacy!

shreya naidu wrote: "realy a very good reviev"

Thank you Shreya!

Jeffrey wrote: "Vessey wrote: "If his service to his country had been properly recognized. If congress hadn’t been actively trying to destroy his life even to the point of bringing fraudulent charges against him t..."

Yeah, that makes sense, unfortunately. I wish I could believe that if it hadn’t been for the arrogance you mentioning, it would have been different, but who knows? People are very much prone to be envious and afraid of the bright and accomplished. In The Mist of Avalons Taliesin, one of Merlin’s names, says:

People have always killed the wise

When Giordano Bruno is sentenced to death by burning at the stake, he says:

"Perhaps you pronounce this sentence against me with greater fear than I receive it with"

Thanks for explaining! :) I love you <3

Interesting review, Jeffrey. If you still have any interest in the subject, Kenneth Roberts wrote a great set of novels about Arnold and Robert Rogers. "Arundel" follows Arnold up to Canada for the siege of Quebec. "Rabble in Arms" pursues him through his brilliant campaigns and fall. "Northwest Passage" traces the rise and fall of Robert Rogers (the first half of the book was made into a mediocre movie with Spencer Tracy). Roberts wrote in the style of Booth Tarkington, big books with Dickensian characters. He was vastly popular in the 20s and 30s, but has fallen off the map today. Still, his stories are historically accurate.

Tom wrote: "Interesting review, Jeffrey. If you still have any interest in the subject, Kenneth Roberts wrote a great set of novels about Arnold and Robert Rogers. "Arundel" follows Arnold up to Canada for the..."

You know Tom I have run across those Kenneth Roberts books before, but have never picked them up. Excellent suggestion. I will definitely give them a whirl. Thanks for the recommend and your kind words.

Great review, Jeffrey. :)

Thanks Mischenko!

Excellent review of an interesting book Jeffrey :)

Very interesting review, Jeffrey! Great work!

Carolyn wrote: "Excellent review of an interesting book Jeffrey :)"

Thanks Carolyn! Not as well known aspect of the Revolution.

Jaline wrote: "Very interesting review, Jeffrey! Great work!"

Thanks Jaline!

I enjoyed reading this. What makes it so incredible is how young most of these men were during that time. I think of Nathan Hale as a 21 year-old giving his life for his country. We have 21-year-olds today who are protesting and throwing fits because the person they voted for didn’t win the election. I’m not here to debate whether or not our president is doing a good job, but what I am debating about is the character of the men back then compared to now.

We need more Nathan Hale’s, Benjamin Tallmadges, and Abraham Woodhulls.

Chelle wrote: "I enjoyed reading this. What makes it so incredible is how young most of these men were during that time. I think of Nathan Hale as a 21 year-old giving his life for his country. We have 21-year-ol..."

Don't forget the twentysomething young men and women who continue to die in Afghanistan and Iraq and even in countries we don't know we are at war with. Those protesters who offended you are a small part of the generation. I will say that we are the only country in the world, that I know of, where a candidate can lose the popular vote by 3 million votes and still be declared the winner. ( I believe that one vote should count as one vote in this country regardless of what state you live in.) Despite these unusual circumstances of inaugurating a popular vote loser we still had a peaceful transfer of power. In revolutionary times there were lots of loyalist Americans who were fighting against the rebels as well. Alliances and loyalty were very murky so though we can hold men like Hale, Tallmadge and Woodhull up as fine examples of our rebellion there were plenty of young men who didn't fit that profile. I feel that the current generation if placed in the same circumstances as those heroes of the revolution would perform better than what you think. I am glad you enjoyed the book Chelle!

Marlih