In Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution, Nathaniel Philbrick takes a revealing look at the War for Independence and the two generals who kept the rebel nation afloat. Despite the lack of battlefield success, these two men courageously bought time with their defensive and guerilla tactics to wear down the greatest fighting force on earth. But what would cause one general to be venerated as a hero by his country, while the other is still viewed as a traitor to this day?



Valiant Ambition is a well-written narrative of the Revolutionary War, and it splits the story between Generals Washington and Arnold as they attempt to fight a war against the military power of the day with limited resources and an uncooperative Continental Congress. Along with blow-by-blow accounts of pivotal battles, Philbrick also insightfully examines the character of two brilliant men and what caused one man to stand and the other to fall. The plausible explanations he provides add color and intrigue to the history he tells, but without hubris.



Valiant Ambition is both an inspired and instructive read on the American Revolution and the two dominant personalities who ended on opposite sides of the War. I highly recommend it.



I was given a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The war for Independence has long been glorified in our history books. However, Nathaniel Philbrick looks through the layers and brings us a untarnished view on the history of the war.

George Washington and Benedict Arnold were two men that became legend during the war. While the war raged on, the two men could not have been more different. Washington worried about the army as the whole and suffered from indecision. Arnold thought of himself and what he could gain from the war. Two men who had greatness before them, but who could not have been more different in their mindsets and goals.
Benedict Arnold became one of the greatest traitors in the history of the United States, and his defection could have demoralized the entire army. However, Washington had been turning the war around, and those who had once been detractors of the Commander in Chief were realizing that he was the only one who could effectively lead the army. Arnold wanted to enrich himself, and come out of the war as a hero, but his actions can speak to anything but. Instead of working toward the betterment of his country, he became a turncoat, and began to work with the enemy, with the urging of his second wife, Peggy.

This is one of the best books on the American Revolution that I have read. While Benedict Arnold and George Washington are the two main characters, there is so much more present. The highs and lows, the good and the bad are all played out on the pages, and no one is spared. From the Continental Congress, to the French allies - every leaf is overturned to give a comprehensive view and greater understanding of what lead to the defection of Benedict Arnold.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the war, and the men who's names have become entwined in history.

I enjoy reading political history and social history but I really dislike military history and unfortunately that's all this book seemed to be about, at least the first part of the book which is all I managed to read before abandoning it. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher but I wound up borrowing and listening to the audiobook from the library. The narrator didn't manage to make the book any less boring.

A good study of the greatness and weakness of Benedict Arnold. The book was a bit hard to follow and tended to jump around among the characters. The book presupposes a background knowledge of the American Revolution that all readers may not possess.
Overall a good book, but it tends to drag in places.

This is my first Philbrick read, but definitely not my last.
This could have very easily been a straight forward autobiography of Benedict Arnold, but Philbrick adds such depth and nuance that the reader not only gets the facts of Arnold's life, but also a truer understanding of the man myself. Great read. Highly recommended for history buffs. I look forward to reading more of Philbrick's work.

**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**