The tale of benedict arnold going from the revolution s hero to its bane has always been a fascinating one, and it only becomes more so as more research has been done on it and the hand that arnold s wife, peggy shippen arnold, had in the turning of arnold s coat. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason, the traitors wife is told from the perspective of peggys maid, whose faith in the new nation inspires her to intervene in her mistresss affairs even when it could cost her everything. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason. I loved her first book the heretic s daughtersome fiction, very historical. Few authors have taken on americas revolutionary war so convincingly, and this story of benedict arnolds wife will appeal to lovers of historical fiction everywhere. The author on the fortress walls of conwy castle, wales. Susan higginbothams vivid portrayal of life during edward iis tumultuous reign makes for. Descendants gather to pay homage at the martha carrier witch trial memorial. The traitors wife kindle edition by higginbotham, susan. The tale of benedict arnold going from the revolutions hero to its bane has always been a fascinating one, and it only becomes more so as more research has been done on it and the hand that arnolds wife, peggy shippen arnold, had in the turning of arnolds coat. A ny times bestselling historical fiction novel by allison pataki. I dont know if someone told er to put in some not so nice scenes that did not need to be in the storyvery disapointing. The woman behind benedict arnold and the plan to betray america, variety. The traitor s wife has all the ingredients for a great story.
A young, tenuretrack professor in boston, shes earned career success by studying the history of magic in colonial america especially womens home recipes and medicines and by exposing societys threats against women fluent in those skills. The traitors wife has all the ingredients for a great story. History is so often written from the perspective of the men who seem to be the prime movers and shakers, but. The characters are marvelous and they live and breathe on these pages. Everyone knows benedict arnoldthe revolutionary war general who betrayed america.
Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious. Be part of the worlds largest community of book lovers on goodreads. Loved it originally titled, the wolves of andover, the traitors wife is a prequel to the heretics daughter. A bewitching tale of treachery and betrayal set in fourteenthc. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious characters from our nation s past. The mainand, in my opinion, more interestingcharacter is clara, the maid to mrs.
If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. The new title is more befitting since the wolves are a minor detail throughout the story. The traitors wife promises to tell the story of peggy shippen, the wife of infamous traitor benedict arnold. The traitors wife by allison pataki escape reality. The traitors wife allison pataki, 2014 howard books 496 pp. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. While the book is exceptionally wellwritten and full of interesting twists and turns, dont be fooled by the title. Great for fans of historical novels, the traitor s wife gives an inside look into the politics and culture of the american colonies while shedding light on the intrigue that gave our language a depiction of a turncoat benedict arnold.
Jan 01, 2014 the traitor s wife is the story of clara, a maid to peggy shippen, who becomes peggy arnold, wife of benedict arnold, quite possibly the united states greatest traitor. Very interesting twist on the life of benedict arnold. Janie van duyvil expected to fend off rumors at her brothers twelfth night ballthose are par for the course in new yorks turnofthecentury social scenebut when her brother bayard is found murdered with a knife in his chest, and bays wife annabelle is presumed drowned in the river beside the. Connie goodwin is an expert on americas fractured past with witchcraft. That is the proposition, more or less, put forward by firsttime author allison pataki in her work of historical fiction, the traitor s wife.
The traitors wife is a gripping novel steeped in compelling historical detail. Radar pictures has acquired the feature film and television rights to allison patakis novel the traitors wife. The traitor s wife, her first novel, was the winner of foreword magazine s 2005 silver award for historical fiction and was a gold medalist, historicalmilitary fiction, 2008 independent publisher book awards. Royal intrigue, mild romance in actionpacked fantasy. A love story and a tale of courage, the traitors wife confirms kathleen kents ability to craft powerful stories from the dramatic background of americas earliest days. If you read one book this year, make it allison patakis the traitors wife. The traitors wife is the best kind of historical fiction. Ultimately a story about honor and heart, readers will have a hard time putting this book down.
Allison pataki is a new york times bestselling author with a passion for telling the stories of leading ladies lost in history. Her novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. We have certainly heard of benedict arnold but it was fun meeting his very cunning wife. The traitors wife is the story of clara, a maid to peggy shippen, who becomes peggy arnold, wife of benedict arnold, quite possibly the united states greatest traitor. As the reigning belle of philadelphia society during the british occupation of 1778, she is admired by men and envied by women. A novel by allison pataki and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The traitors wife is full of details that make you feel you are there and witnessing these events as they happened. Feb 11, 2014 a young ladys maid is witness to benedict arnold and his wifes treachery in this fictional account set during the american war for independence. I hardly knew anything about peggy arnold and was intrigued about reading about. The traitors wife reads much more quickly than its nearly 500page length suggests. This is the first novel from pataki, daughter of former new york state governor george e. I hardly knew anything about peggy arnold and was intrigued about reading about what the wife of such an infamous man was like. Loved it originally titled, the wolves of andover, the traitor s wife is a prequel to the heretic s daughter. The traitors wife ebook king county library system.
Book club guide the traitors wife by allison pataki. This is the story of martha allen and her romance with thomas carrier during colonial times in the newly colonized america. Feb 06, 2014 the traitor s wife reads much more quickly than its nearly 500page length suggests. Jul 11, 2007 a teaser for my historical novel the traitor s wife. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new. I loved the attention to detail and accuracy of the setting, the detail of events. She provides visually appealing scenesetting details on the shippens upperclass philadelphia household and looks beyond the famous figures to portray the less privileged lives of their servants. If you want to know about a moment that could have spelled the end of america then this is the book for you. Sep 14, 2016 radar pictures has acquired the feature film and television rights to allison patakis novel the traitors wife. This book the traitor s wife follows along the same story line. The woman behind benedict arnold and the plan to betray america thorndike press lrg hardcover aug 21, 2014 hardcover. In the traitors wife, allison pataki brings to life an intriguing slice of american history, told from the perspective of peggys maid, clara bell, who must decide where her own loyalties lie.
The traitors wife by allison pataki, paperback barnes. A novel of the reign of edward ii, set in fourteenthcentury england. The traitors wife, her first novel, was the winner of foreword magazines 2005 silver award for historical fiction and was a gold medalist, historicalmilitary fiction, 2008 independent publisher book awards. Kathleen kent is the author of the edgar awardnominated the dime, as well as the bestselling historical novels the heretics daughter, the traitors wife, and the outcasts. Great for fans of historical novels, the traitors wife gives an inside look into the politics and culture of the american colonies while shedding light on the intrigue that gave our language a depiction of a turncoat benedict arnold. The traitors wife by susan higginbotham nook book ebook. The narrator did a horrible job of portraying the male characters in the book, her voice was not deep enough, and often failed to convey when man was speaking. Her debut novel, the traitors wife, came out in 2014 and her second novel, the accidental empress, came out in february 2015. Allison pataki is the author of the bestselling novels sisi, the traitor s wife, and the accidental empress, as well as the coauthor of where the light falls, with her brother owen pataki, and two children s books. The red book, where all the attending carrier descendants signed their names. This book the traitors wife follows along the same story line. Through the eyes of a fictional ladys maid, the historical figures of peggy arnold and her husband, benedictyes, the traitorcome to life in this debut historical novel by the daughter of. A young ladys maid is witness to benedict arnold and his wifes treachery in this fictional account set during the american war for independence. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion.
The traitor s wife is a gripping novel steeped in compelling historical detail. Susan higginbotham is the author of seven historical novels, including hanging mary, the stolen crown, and the queen of last hopes. A young, tenuretrack professor in boston, shes earned career success by studying the history of magic in colonial america especially womens home recipes and medicines and by exposing societys threats against women fluent in. Everyone knows benedict arnoldthe revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the britishas historys most notorious turncoat. From the bedchamber to the battlefield, through treachery and fidelity, one woman is imprisoned by the secrets of the crown. That is the proposition, more or less, put forward by firsttime author allison pataki in her work of historical fiction, the traitors wife.
Jan 09, 2014 a riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind america s most infamous act of treason. A teaser for my historical novel the traitors wife. If you would like a signed copy of an event book but are unable to attend the event or the event has already occurred, place the book in your cart and indicate. Mar 17, 2014 the traitor s wife is full of details that make you feel you are there and witnessing these events as they happened. Susan higginbothams vivid portrayal of life during edward iis tumultuous reign makes for fascinating reading. Kathleen kent is the author of the edgar awardnominated the dime, as well as the bestselling historical novels the heretic s daughter, the traitor s wife, and the outcasts. But daniel knew from his wife, patience, that for all the old mans parsimonious airs, he swore, drank hard ale, and gambled at dice whenever, and wherever, the opportunity arose, and was tighter than a tick paying for anything he couldnt raise from the ground or fashion himself from driftwood. We had never read anything about the revolutionary war era and we really enjoyed learning about this time period. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious characters from our nations past. Kathleen kent talks to descendants about the history and research for the traitor s wife.
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