Mrs. Benedict Arnold - by Emma Parry (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A riveting reimagining of the young woman who almost ended the American Revolution.

Philadelphia in the 1770s. Peggy Shippen longs for the war she's living through to end. Though not always appreciated at home, she finds her curiosity is welcomed by a lively and influential circle of friends, including a glamorous rising star in the British army, Captain John André.

When the war separates them, Peggy is devastated--both by his absence and the horrors of ongoing conflict--before finding consolation in a man whose heroics for the Patriots have captured the world's imagination: General Benedict Arnold.

As she trades Loyalist balls for Patriot salons, entertaining the most prominent figures of early America, and navigating the country's lethal political currents, she conceives of an audacious scheme to achieve peace and her family's survival, unleashing what would become the most famous act of treason in history.

When uncertainty and bloodshed are the only constants, Mrs. Benedict Arnold asks, how far will one woman go for safety?

Review Quotes

"The name Benedict Arnold has long been synonymous with treason and betrayal, but in Emma Parry's magnificent debut, Mrs. Benedict Arnold, it's clear that the truth is much more complicated than that. Mrs. Benedict Arnold is a captivating look at the life and heart of one of American history's most misunderstood villains and the woman who stood by his side--and may well have influenced his eventual shifting of allegiances. If you love Hamilton, you'll devour the well-researched, fast-paced, and fascinating Mrs. Benedict Arnold, which may well shift the way you think of America's most famous traitor." --Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author

"Parry offers a deeply researched and refreshing take on a seminal moment in American history, told through the eyes of a woman who refuses to be a spectator as the world crumbles around her. Fans of Hamilton will enjoy this propulsive debut that explores not only the toll of war, but also the cost of peace." --Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

"Emma Parry casts a discerning light on Peggy Shippen Arnold, offering an intimate glimpse into the life of a woman shaped by love, obligation, and turbulent times. A reflective reexamination of a figure long overshadowed by history." --Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of An American Beauty

"Emma Parry has taken an exceptionally complicated moment in history and managed to cut through all that noise with such a brilliant, maverick character in Peggy. It works so well on every level: the detail, the romance, the bittersweet ending. She weaves a vivid and moving story of love and espionage with a luminous heroine at its center. Assured and enthralling, Mrs. Benedict Arnold is a window into America's complicated origins--and the women who shaped it." --Phil Melanson, author of Florenzer

"Peggy Shippen--otherwise known as Benedict Arnold's wife--comes alive on the pages of Emma Parry's debut novel. Peggy, a plucky heroine caught between two worlds, always manages to come out on top, and for that, it's hard not to root for her, even as she undermines Washington's fledgling government in the name of the crown and her family's survival. Parry uses perfect prose to tell a treasonous tale that will have you thinking long and hard about the fragility of our own democracy, what very nearly was, and--perhaps most importantly--what could be." --Rachel Beanland, author of The Half Life and Florence Adler Swims Forever

"Emma Parry's debut novel plunges readers into a Revolutionary War drama ripe with secrets, shifting alliances, and romance. The author deftly gives voice to Peggy Shippen, Benedict Arnold's wife, as she navigates the tumultuous seas of love, war, and treason. Peggy is a complex, savvy heroine whose fear, determination, and fierce loyalty in the face of mounting dangers also make her utterly relatable. Appearances by colorful characters like Hamilton, Burr, and Washington will be a special treat for Hamilton fans, too. Parry's novel offers a refreshing perspective on one of the most infamous betrayals in Revolutionary War history, and readers will be thinking about Peggy's story long after they turn the last page." --Suzanne Nelson, author of The Librarians of Lisbon

"Peggy Shippen pops off the pages of Parry's novel--the vividly imagined story of a Philadelphia high society 'it girl' whose coming-of-age mirrors the turmoil of a nation at war with itself. In a dangerous world where Revolutionary politics infiltrate every salon and social circle, Peggy walks the knife's edge between her friendship with a suave British officer and marriage to a famed American general twice her age, Benedict Arnold. Her passions and instincts for survival propel her into a conspiracy that could alter the course of American history. In this immersive novel of love, power, and peril--all the way to its heart-stopping conclusion--the formidable Peggy Shippen-Arnold finally gets her due." --Samantha Silva, author of Love and Fury and Mr. Dickens and His Carol

"Emma Parry brings the American Revolution to life in this keenly observed, astonishing debut about a brilliant, spirited young woman caught between two great loves and two great nations. Brimming with wit and historic detail, Parry expertly embroiders a tale of courtly romance and political intrigue onto a star-spangled sampler, vividly rendering our founding fathers and mothers, and delivering an irresistible heroine in Peggy. Probing into the true nature of loyalty, patriotism, and love, Mrs. Benedict Arnold is a lush, nuanced exploration of how one woman can tip the scales of history." --Emma Brodie, author of Songs in Ursa Major

About the Author

Emma Parry is a literary agent in New York. She lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.