Review: "Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American R

This was a fabulous non-fiction book about the men of the Revolutionary War with an emphasis on George Washington and Benedict Arnold. It delves into the personality of each and what made them think as they did. It follows Washington and the decisions he made as he struggled to win the war. It also follows Arnold and his provocation for betraying his country. It digs into the human side of all, allowing you to see them as the actual men that they were.

The author follows the Revolutionary War chronologically, telling the events as they happened. The emphasis at the beginning of the book is on George Washington and his struggles to lead the country. Although he is regarded as a leading general in our history, he made his share of mistakes. He had to learn to curb his natural inclination to fight and the story shows how he learned and grew as a leader. Although his accomplishments are mentioned throughout, Benedict Arnold’s story is focused on at the end of the book. You can understand why his sense of entitlement and personality led him to his betrayal.

This is an impressive book that allows you to see a different, more human perspective of both these major men in our history. Although nothing about the book would be offensive to younger readers, I do recommend it for adults who are looking for a nonfiction book of this period. It is very historical and at times gets a little intense with details and a younger reader may lose interest.

I requested and received this book for review from NetGalley.