Valiant Ambition

George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution

By: Nathaniel Philbrick

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times best seller

Winner of the George Washington Prize

A surprising account of the middle years of the American Revolution and the tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold, from the New York Times best-selling author of In the Heart of the Sea, Mayflower, and In the Hurricane's Eye.

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

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

In the second book of his acclaimed American Revolution series, Nathaniel Philbrick turns to the tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold.

In September 1776, the vulnerable Continental army under an unsure George Washington evacuated New York after a devastating defeat by the British army. Three weeks later, near the Canadian border, one of his favorite generals, Benedict Arnold, miraculously succeeded in postponing the British naval advance down Lake Champlain that might have lost the war. As this book ends, four years later, Washington has vanquished his demons, and Arnold has fled to the enemy. America was forced at last to realize that the real threat to its liberties might not come from without but from within.

Complex, controversial, and dramatic, Valiant Ambition is a portrait of a people in crisis and the war that gave birth to a nation.

©2016 Nathaniel Philbrick (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Benedict Arnold takes center stage in Nathaniel Philbrick’s vivid and in some ways cautionary tale of the Revolutionary War. The near-tragic nature of the drama hinges not on any military secrets Arnold gave to the British but on an open secret: the weakness of the patriot cause.... Arnold’s betrayal still makes for great drama, proving once again that the supposed villains of a story are usually the most interesting." (New York Times Book Review)

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

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

Amazing look it something important

Great book. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Great story and well read. It kept me wanting to hear more.

History with Plot and Characters

Philbrick takes the shine (and the tarnish) off some of America's most famous figures and leaves them both more and less than we knew. His interpretation in the epilogue of Arnold's role in our country's history is insightful and leaves the reader wondering in a new way about the actual effect of Arnold's treason.

one of my favorites books

I loved this book from beginning to end. It is a compelling view into the drama and politics of the Continental Army mid-war. Philbrick turns these characters into real people who belong to more than just a dry textbook. This is one I will definitely listen to again.

Comprehensive yet opinionated

Good research. Interesting history that I wasn’t aware of, but sometimes too much detail. Since Philbrick used (and credited) so many historical sources, I expected a more academic, nuanced take. However, I found instead that the author seemed rather opinionated and to have drawn conclusions about individual’s motives and mental states that could only be conjectures.

Valiant Story!

Very well-researched and written. Surprisingly much broader perspective on that critical time in US history that I expected. A delightful tale and prescient warning for today’s US citizens to stay ever-vigilant in defending our precious democracy from those self-serving traitors dressed as patriots.

good book

reader can be tough to listen to, bur story and research are well done. recommend. philbrick is excellent

Such a great book and fantastic narration!

This is a well written book about a subject that gets glossed over in many history classes. We all know Arnold the traitor but few know the what, how and why. Philbrick does this smoothly and with Scott Brick's beautiful narration, this book will grab you and not release until the end which is not often said on historical literature and narration. You must listen to this book.

History come to life- A real page Turner

What did you love best about Valiant Ambition?

The American Revolutionary War suddenly became full of real people with emotions, successes and failures.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Knowing very little about Benedict Arnold, I was at first indignant that he should have been treated so poorly and eventually consumed by dislike of his behavior to his conemporaies and country.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Excellent delivery that kept one on edge even though the ultimate results were preordained.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely!

Any additional comments?

The wealth of documentation in the form of private letters and official records made the reader confident that he was party to an accurate observer of these thrilling episodes.

great research in historiography

Philbrick examines all of the motives, weaknesses and strengths of the principal parties in our nation's founding war. Even for those familiar with the story, the detail that is used by Philbrook is outstanding.

Where's the ending !?

As we listened to this very detailed examination of Arnold's career serving the colonies, I thought this was going to be a glowing review of Benedict Arnold's entire life...until the end! The book seems to abruptly end upon his betrayal. It only briefly mentions his service to the Brits and no discussion of the rest of his days. These were topics I really wanted to hear, but no!