Rating: 
Summary: Arnold the Hero
Review: After viewing the A&E movie A Question Of Honor, my fascination with Arnold began.. So I decided to pick up this book. Mainly because I was more interested in Arnold the American Hero rather then Arnold the American Traitor....
There are two Benedict Arnolds of the American Revolution. Most people are only familiar with the Traitor Arnold rather then the Hero Arnold. This particular book focuses on the Hero Arnold (just look at the title of the book) and does a fine job. The story of Arnolds heroic actions in the early part of the American Revolution needed to be told and James Kirby Martin tackled the task greatly......
The book more or less ends at the battle of Saratoga. Mainly because after that infamous battle, Arnolds decent into treason began to pick up steam. If Arnold would have been killed at Saratoga he would have been an American Hero. After reading this book, I almost wish that would have been the case. The man was a victim of his own bitterness. The story of Benedict Arnold was a true tragedy....
I think this book should be viewed as a "part one" of the Benedict Arnold saga. After reading this book, seek out other books(on Arnold) which focuses on his treason.......
Rating: 
Summary: Reconsidering my earlier review
Review: Having spent the past two months reading other biographies of Arnold, I am now, in Martin's words, "reconsidering" my earlier review ( see below). While Martin's work is well written, interesting, and highly readable, it is far too incomplete to be anything other than a suplementary source. Martin ignores key activites in Arnold's life, most importantly his time spent as commandant in Philadephia, and also ignores the romance and marriage to Peggy Shippen. Col. Andre is mentioned in only a cursory manner. The treason itself is barely touched upon. The book essentially ends after the Battles of Sarasota, when Arnold was badly wounded. What emerges is an interesting but incomplete portriat of General Arnold. It would be a great Volume one, if Martin were to continue the biography by addressing these other events in Arnolds life. But for one who is interested in learning about Arnold for the first time, this book is best left on the shelf for after a more! thorough biography.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a very disappointing book
Review: I bought this book because of the enthusiastic reviews it received on the Amazon.com website. Having looked through it, I am thoroughly disappointed. The author is apparently either unaware of the great novels dealing with Benedict Arnold, beautifully and accurately written in the 1930's by Kenneth Roberts,or has chosen to ignore them. I find this totally unacceptable, since much of what we know about the march to Quebec, the retreat and near loss of the Northern Army on Isle Aux Noix, and the Battle of Valcour Island came to light in "Arundel" and "Rabble in Arms". Martin apparently wanted to write an academic version of Arnold's life, but his failure to cite Roberts renders the Martin book intellectually dishonest. Further, that Martin could have failed to mention Roberts' collection of diaries entitled "The March on Quebec" is truly mind boggling. If it would be possible to give the book zero stars, I would do so for it doesn't deserve the one I had to give it.
Rating:
Summary: This is a very disappointing book
Review: I bought this book because of the enthusiastic reviews it received on the Amazon.com website. Having looked through it, I am thoroughly disappointed. The author is apparently either unaware of the great novels dealing with Benedict Arnold, beautifully and accurately written in the 1930's by Kenneth Roberts,or has chosen to ignore them. I find this totally unacceptable, since much of what we know about the march to Quebec, the retreat and near loss of the Northern Army on Isle Aux Noix, and the Battle of Valcour Island came to light in "Arundel" and "Rabble in Arms". Martin apparently wanted to write an academic version of Arnold's life, but his failure to cite Roberts renders the Martin book intellectually dishonest. Further, that Martin could have failed to mention Roberts' collection of diaries entitled "The March on Quebec" is truly mind boggling. If it would be possible to give the book zero stars, I would do so for it doesn't deserve the one I had to give it.
Rating:
Summary: Fine Book
Review: I gave this book four stars because a definitive work on this subject doesn't deserve five (Arnold is a footnote figure in American history and I'm a tough grader). But the author captures the story quite well, Arnold is a man of ferocious talent and weak character. I got the impression after reading the sequence of events which led to his treachery that if events had been a bit different, if Arnold had not been surrounded by enemies and mediocrities at different points in his career, he would have taken his place among America's heroes. For all of his faults (a previous reviewer referred to "bad life choices") it seems clear that bad luck plays some role in the story, who gives their all to a cause and suffers it well when spiteful mediocrities prosper?Having said that, I finished this book with much greater esteem for people like George Washington, who also had his enemies but was blessed with a far stronger character, and came to appreciate the "unwritten" story of the American Revolution, there was a lot of political intrigue behind the scenes, malice, pettiness, Arnold had just grievances but gave in to his demons. A cautionary tale about character.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent concept, well presented.
Review: It's an obvious concept if you think about it: our automatic thought when we hear the name "Benedict Arnold" is clearly a matter of perspective, not simple truth. The victors write the histories. Had Britain won the war, Arnold would have been, at worst, someone who saw the writing on the wall and got out while the getting was good, and at best, a prodigal son who'd seen the light and returned to the fold, renouncing his treason against king and country. The first beauty of this book is that by simply existing, it forces you TO think about it; most people never do. But beyond that, it gives a meticulous history of the man, admitting his flaws (he was ambitious and more than a bit prickly about what he saw as slurs on his personal honor) but also pointing out the many positives that most Americans are completely unaware of: he was one of the greatest generals in the rebel cause, generous, courageous, honorable, and brilliant. So why did this man turn against the cause he'd fought for? Partly because he was disillusioned by the behavior towards himself and others by what he saw as a congress interested more in political connections than competence in awarding military honors, partly because he came to believe that said congress's incompetence rendered the American cause unwinnable. An error, and a serious one, but one which must be balanced against the fact that his contributions at the battle of Saratoga were largely responsible for the American victory. A fascinating study into a seriously overlooked subject in American history. A must-read.
Rating:
Summary: Shedding Light on the Dark Side
Review: Martin has created a new spin for Benedict Arnold. Much to my surprise I enjoyed this book. Since a child, the name Benedict Arnold has always left me with goose bumps. The "hated American" who left us for the British. I received this book for christmas and expected it to further my distaste for Arnold. To my surprise, Martin has me contemplating Arnolds place among great American Generals. Not to say I will ever look upon Arnold as a hero, but lets just the goose bumps are gone. One may look at Arnold differently after reading this and at some points you may even feel sorry for the man. Readers will find themselves wondering how can a man who leads his troops through the Maine wilderness in the dead of winter turn his back on everthing he has fought for. An amazing story!
Rating:
Summary: Shedding Light on the Dark Side
Review: Martin has created a new spin for Benedict Arnold. Much to my surprise I enjoyed this book. Since a child, the name Benedict Arnold has always left me with goose bumps. The "hated American" who left us for the British. I received this book for christmas and expected it to further my distaste for Arnold. To my surprise, Martin has me contemplating Arnolds place among great American Generals. Not to say I will ever look upon Arnold as a hero, but lets just the goose bumps are gone. One may look at Arnold differently after reading this and at some points you may even feel sorry for the man. Readers will find themselves wondering how can a man who leads his troops through the Maine wilderness in the dead of winter turn his back on everthing he has fought for. An amazing story!
Rating:
Summary: The Real Story of America
Review: Martin is the foremost authority on this period in our history. He also manages to be the only historian I have read yet that handled the Arnold Expedition to Quebec with the accuracy and depth it deserves. Martin speaks of my grandfather Major Reuben Colburn with fairness and awards him the credit for his efforts in supplying, leading and maintaining the mission denied him by historians through the ages. Many merely used Colburn as a scapegoat for the failure of the effort, but not Martin. His research revealed the truth as such an effort so often does should an author choose that path, and I applaud him for it. He has also backed me in my effort to convince the National Park Service to grant Colburn House in Pittston, Maine "Landmark" status. Jim Martin is an ally I value greatly, and a man who knows what he is talking about.
Rating:
Summary: A good read, but not for an intor on Arnold
Review: Martin's biography demonstrates the complexities of Arnold's mercurial character, but falls short of the completeness needed to become the "authoritative Arnold". The author syphons through 2 centuries of myth to find the true Benedict Arnold: a complex human being with amazing military talent, caught over and again in a web of politicking which he neither understood nor approved. Arnold's treason becomes more heroicly tragic than dastardly. Indeed, the reader cannot help but see similarities of today's "look out for my own best interests" philosophy in business, sports, and politics. It would seem Arnold may be the ultimate example of American individualism. While Martin's work is well written, interesting, and highly readable, it is far too incomplete to be anything other than a suplementary source. Martin ignores key activites in Arnold's life, most importantly his time spent as commandant in Philadephia, and also ignores the romance and marriage to Peggy Shippen. Col. Andre is mentioned in only a cursory manner. The treason itself is barely touched upon. The book essentially ends after the Battles of Sarasota, when Arnold was badly wounded. What emerges is an interesting but incomplete portriat of General Arnold. This book would be a great Volume One, if Martin were to continue the biography by addressing these other events in Arnolds life. But for one who is interested in learning about Arnold for the first time, this book is best left on the shelf for after a more thorough biography.
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