Ask Americans who Benedict Arnold was and just about every one of them will know that he was a traitor to America during the Revolutionary War. But unless they are students of the Revolutionary time period, they may not realize that Arnold was a well-regarded and accomplished Revolutionary War hero before he betrayed the new nation.

In fact, he was one of our most successful war leaders, taking the fight to the British in Canada, then fending off a British invasion from there. He also played a critical role at the battle of Saratoga, a turning point in the war and the first time an entire British army had surrendered.

Historian and author Jack Kelly says at the start of the book that Americans “have hated Benedict Arnold for 250 years”, as he gives us a chance to take another look at both the good and bad of a man whose name is synonymous with “traitor”.

You can find other books, like Nathaniel Philbrick’s Valiant Ambition, that cover much of the same subject matter as God Save Benedict Arnold. Philbrick’s book, like all his books, is an excellent read, but it is a history not a biography of Arnold as Kelly’s book is.

In Kelly’s account we follow Arnold from his boyhood to his days of business success as a high seas trader, and then right onto the battlefields of the Revolution. He puts us at the scene as Arnold narrowly escapes death or serious injury in countless clashes with the British. He provides insights into Arnold’s genius at battle, both in planning and in taking advantage of opportunities once the battle has been joined.

Arnold’s prickly pride and quickness to take offense are also on full display in Kelly’s book. His pride was often wounded by the actions of the Continental Congress, which kept for itself the prerogative of promoting and awarding the officers of the Continental Army. Congress was full of men who did not know battle, and their rationale for their dealings with the Army’s generals were often at odds with the feelings of those leaders - up to and including George Washington himself. Congress’s actions in not promoting Arnold, while they did promote others around him, is seen by many historians as a major contributing factor (given Arnold’s prickly pride) to his eventually turning traitor. In this Kelly seems to particularly blame John Adams.

This is an excellent book, but if Kelly’s hope was that the reader might feel more sympathy for Arnold after reading it, I’m not quite sure he succeeds. Knowing more of his contributions, and the crucial nature of his successes for the American side before he agreed to spy for the British gives me more of an understanding, not less, for why Americans have hated Arnold for 250 years.

RATING: Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating Comment: A well written and easy to read biography of Benedict Arnold. Worth reading for those who don’t have an understanding of Arnold’s contributions to the Revolution, or those looking for a refresher on the events in the northern colonies during the Revolution.

NOTE: I read an advanced ebook copy courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. The book became available to the public December 5, 2023. ( )

Thank you, Jack Kelly, for giving me a new perspective on the life of Benedict Arnold. Like many who grew up in the United States, I knew Benedict Arnold as a traitor to America and little else. You have shown me he was a gifted war strategist and a multi-faceted person.

The American Revolution and the Civil War share some important similarities in that often times family members and friends were on opposing sides. And there were many people who remained neutral. It’s easy to see how the lines could become blurred for individuals living during those times.

In Benedict’s case, he wanted to be rewarded for his military successes and it often seemed someone else stole the spotlight and that Congress overlooked him for promotions. At times he was serving under individuals who had once been serving under him. He felt humiliated and was dissatisfied in serving for the Patriot cause. Most likely the only reason he stayed as long as he did was because of his belief in the cause and his favorable relationship with George Washington.

I loved reading this and learning about a side of American history I knew little about. This would be a great gift for readers who love history and the strategies of war during the American Revolutionary times.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy of offer an honest review and recommend this to other readers. ( )

I consider myself a bit of a history buff, and enjoy reading just about anything I can about the Revolutionary War, and I can definitely say I learned a lot of things about Benedict Arnold that I didn't know before I read this book. I knew that he wasn't always a traitor, but I really enjoyed learning about how involved he was in many of the victories that helped us win our independence from the British, and how, had he been given the recognition he felt he was due, things may have turned out very differently for him. I enjoyed Jack Kelly's writing style very much, and think that added to how quickly I was able to read what was quite an in depth look into Benedict Arnold's life, both professional and personal.

Highly recommend - 5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jack Kelly for the opportunity to read God Save Benedict Arnold. ( )