Books with author Stephen Brumwell

Why did the once-ardent hero of the American Revolutionary cause become its most dishonored traitor? General Benedict Arnold’s failed attempt to betray the fortress of West Point to the British in 1780 stands as one of the most infamous episodes in American history. In the light of a shining record of bravery and unquestioned commitment to the Revolution, Arnold’s defection came as an appalling shock. Contemporaries believed he had been corrupted by greed; historians have theorized that he had come to resent the lack of recognition for his merits and sacrifices. In this provocative book Stephen Brumwell challenges such interpretations and draws on unexplored archives to reveal other crucial factors that illuminate Arnold’s abandonment of the revolutionary cause he once championed. This work traces Arnold’s journey from enthusiastic support of American independence to his spectacularly traitorous acts and narrow escape. Brumwell’s research leads to an unexpected conclusion: Arnold’s mystifying betrayal was driven by a staunch conviction that America’s best interests would be served by halting the bloodshed and reuniting the fractured British Empire.

Why did the once-ardent hero of the American Revolutionary cause become its most dishonored traitor? General Benedict Arnold’s failed attempt to betray the fortress of West Point to the British in 1780 stands as one of the most infamous episodes in American history. In the light of a shining record of bravery and unquestioned commitment to the Revolution, Arnold’s defection came as an appalling shock. Contemporaries believed he had been corrupted by greed; historians have theorized that he had come to resent the lack of recognition for his merits and sacrifices. In this provocative book Stephen Brumwell challenges such interpretations and draws on unexplored archives to reveal other crucial factors that illuminate Arnold’s abandonment of the revolutionary cause he once championed. This work traces Arnold’s journey from enthusiastic support of American independence to his spectacularly traitorous acts and narrow escape. Brumwell’s research leads to an unexpected conclusion: Arnold’s mystifying betrayal was driven by a staunch conviction that America’s best interests would be served by halting the bloodshed and reuniting the fractured British Empire.

Life is hard for Gary. He has a dead-end job, a grouchy boss, and a beat-up car—and he's only in eighth grade! Things go from bad to worse when a wave of bank robberies hits the city and Gary becomes the prime suspect. With time running out to clear his name and nail the real crooks, this teenage tough-guy must rely on cunning, stealth, and good, old-fashioned, two-fisted justice! It's all in a day's work in a city that doesn't exist.

Life is hard for Gary. He has a dead-end job, a grouchy boss, and a beat-up car—and he's only in eighth grade! Things go from bad to worse when a wave of bank robberies hits the city and Gary becomes the prime suspect. With time running out to clear his name and nail the real crooks, this teenage tough-guy must rely on cunning, stealth, and good, old-fashioned, two-fisted justice! It's all in a day's work in a city that doesn't exist.