| The name Benedict Arnold survives today as a synonym for treachery. Author James Kirby Martin points out that Arnold's life, however, was not a simple black-and-white morality play--high-school textbook narratives to the contrary. Indeed, under different circumstances the American Judas might have gone down in history as the most revered military leader of the Revolutionary War, save George Washington. "His treason was shocking because of the magnitude of his contributions to the Revolutionary effort," writes Kirby, a professor at the University of Houston. In this revisionist account, Kirby suggests that Arnold was more a victim of his own inept political skills than a slave to base motives. A complex psychology was at work as well: Arnold always felt underappreciated by his colleagues, especially after victories at Saratoga. Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero presents a detailed account of an often misunderstood man. |