Valiant Ambition
George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution
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Narrated by:
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Scott Brick
About this listen
A New York Times best seller
Winner of the George Washington Prize
A surprising account of the middle years of the American Revolution and the tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold, from the New York Times best-selling author of In the Heart of the Sea, Mayflower, and In the Hurricane's Eye.
"May be one of the greatest what-if books of the age - a volume that turns one of America’s best-known narratives on its head.” (Boston Globe)
"Clear and insightful, [Valiant Ambition] consolidates Philbrick's reputation as one of America's foremost practitioners of narrative nonfiction." (Wall Street Journal)
In the second book of his acclaimed American Revolution series, Nathaniel Philbrick turns to the tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold.
In September 1776, the vulnerable Continental army under an unsure George Washington evacuated New York after a devastating defeat by the British army. Three weeks later, near the Canadian border, one of his favorite generals, Benedict Arnold, miraculously succeeded in postponing the British naval advance down Lake Champlain that might have lost the war. As this book ends, four years later, Washington has vanquished his demons, and Arnold has fled to the enemy. America was forced at last to realize that the real threat to its liberties might not come from without but from within.
Complex, controversial, and dramatic, Valiant Ambition is a portrait of a people in crisis and the war that gave birth to a nation.
©2016 Nathaniel Philbrick (P)2016 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Benedict Arnold takes center stage in Nathaniel Philbrick’s vivid and in some ways cautionary tale of the Revolutionary War. The near-tragic nature of the drama hinges not on any military secrets Arnold gave to the British but on an open secret: the weakness of the patriot cause.... Arnold’s betrayal still makes for great drama, proving once again that the supposed villains of a story are usually the most interesting." (New York Times Book Review)
"Philbrick's deep scholarship, nuanced analysis, and novelistic storytelling add up to another triumph." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
“A lively account of our Revolutions’ most reviled figure.” (Kirkus Reviews)
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- Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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From an acclaimed military historian, a bold reappraisal of young George Washington, an ambitious if reckless soldier destined to become the legendary general who took on the British and, through his leadership, defined the American character.
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Interesting
- By Shielding C on 06-25-22
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Killing Jesus
- A History
- By: Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
- Narrated by: Bill O'Reilly
- Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Millions of people have thrilled to best-selling authors Bill O'Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln, works of nonfiction that have changed the way we view history. Now the anchor of The O'Reilly Factor details the events leading up to the murder of the most influential man in history: Jesus of Nazareth. Nearly 2,000 years after this beloved and controversial young revolutionary was brutally killed by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion human beings attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God.
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The Jesus story in context
- By Kimberly on 10-01-13
By: Bill O'Reilly, and others
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Valley Forge
- By: Bob Drury, Tom Clavin
- Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
- Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Valley Forge is the riveting true story of an underdog US toppling an empire. Using new and rarely seen contemporaneous documents - and drawing on a cast of iconic characters and remarkable moments that capture the innovation and energy that led to the birth of our nation - the New York Times best-selling authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin provide a breathtaking account of this seminal and previously undervalued moment in the battle for American independence.
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Moving story about saving the Revolution
- By LEE on 11-15-18
By: Bob Drury, and others
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Igniting the American Revolution
- 1773-1775
- By: Derek W. Beck
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Few Americans know that the Revolutionary War did not begin with the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, but over a year earlier, in April 1775. Now historian Derek Beck draws on previously unpublished documents to tell the full story of the war before American independence - from both sides. Spanning the years 1773 to 1776, this audiobook sweeps listeners from the Boston Tea Party to the halls of Parliament - where Ben Franklin was almost run out of England for pleading on behalf of the colonies.
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Learned so much!
- By tracey68 on 10-15-17
By: Derek W. Beck
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Through the Perilous Fight
- Six Weeks That Saved the Nation
- By: Steve Vogel
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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In the summer of 1814, the United States of America teetered on the brink of disaster. The war it had declared against Great Britain two years earlier appeared headed toward inglorious American defeat. In a fast-paced, character-driven narrative, Steve Vogel tells the story of this titanic struggle from the perspective of both sides. Like an epic novel, Through the Perilous Fight abounds with heroes, villains, and astounding feats of derring-do.
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History at its finest!
- By Anonymous User on 04-04-24
By: Steve Vogel
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American General
- The Life and Times of William Tecumseh Sherman
- By: John S.D. Eisenhower
- Narrated by: Jack Garrett
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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From respected historian John S. D. Eisenhower comes a surprising portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman, the Civil War general whose path of destruction cut the Confederacy in two, broke the will of the Southern population, and earned him a place in history as "the first modern general". Yet behind his reputation as a fierce warrior was a sympathetic man of complex character. A century and a half after the Civil War, Sherman remains one of its most controversial figures...
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War is Hell?
- By Sandra on 03-27-15
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Washington's Crossing
- By: David Hackett Fischer
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
- Length: 18 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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This New York Times best seller is a thrilling account of one of the most pivotal moments in United States history. Six months after the Declaration of Independence, America was nearly defeated. Then on Christmas night, George Washington led his men across the Delaware River to destroy the Hessians at Trenton. A week later Americans held off a counterattack, and in a brilliant tactical move, Washington crept behind the British army to win another victory. The momentum had reversed.
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Particularly Good Military History
- By William on 10-11-04
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Washington's Spies
- The Story of America's First Spy Ring
- By: Alexander Rose
- Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Based on remarkable new research, acclaimed historian Alexander Rose brings to life the true story of the spy ring that helped America win the Revolutionary War. For the first time, Rose takes us beyond the battlefront and deep into the shadowy underworld of double agents and triple crosses, covert operations and code breaking, and unmasks the courageous, flawed men who inhabited this wilderness of mirrors—including the spymaster at the heart of it all.
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Kinda boring
- By Randall on 07-10-19
By: Alexander Rose
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General Ulysses S. Grant
- The Soldier and the Man
- By: Edward G. Longacre
- Narrated by: Jonathan Walker
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Despite his reputation for rash decisions, brutal tactics, and intemperate behavior, Ulysses S. Grant was the only Union general who could win the war for Lincoln. Grant's aggressive strategies, swift movements and uncompromising battlefield attacks were praised in the North, feared in the South, and reviled by many of his own associates and staff. General Grant is, perhaps, one of the most controversial, enigmatic, and misunderstood generals in our nation's history.
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Good Biography
- By Morgan on 07-14-11
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Revolution on the Hudson
- New York City and the Hudson River Valley in the American War of Independence
- By: George C. Daughan
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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No part of the country was more contested during the American Revolution than the Hudson River. In 1776 King George III sent the largest amphibious force ever assembled to seize Manhattan and use it as a base from which to push up the Hudson River Valley for a rendezvous at Albany with an impressive army driving down from Canada. George Washington and other patriot leaders shared the king's fixation with the Hudson.
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Tough Criticism But Fair
- By Blue on 03-15-21
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A World on Fire
- Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War
- By: Amanda Foreman
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 32 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Even before the first rumblings of secession shook the halls of Congress, British involvement in the coming schism was inevitable. Britain was dependent on the South for cotton, and in turn the Confederacy relied almost exclusively on Britain for guns, bullets, and ships. The Union sought to block any diplomacy between the two and consistently teetered on the brink of war with Britain. For four years the complex web of relationships between the countries led to defeats and victories both minute and history-making.
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excellent narrative history
- By Daniel on 08-15-11
By: Amanda Foreman
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On a bitter cold day in January 1741, Benedict Arnold was born. Little did anyone know that he would grow up to become the most infamous villain in American history. But first, he would be one of the country's greatest war heroes. Fearless in the line of fire, a genius at strategy and motivating his men, General Arnold was America's first action hero. But his thirst for recognition would ultimately be his undoing.
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Not a fresh take on the Revolution
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The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution: 1763-1789
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Strong History Rich With Behind The Scenes Details
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What listeners say about Valiant Ambition
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Michael
- 07-28-18
Amazing look it something important
Great book. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Great story and well read. It kept me wanting to hear more.
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- diane daniels manning
- 06-10-16
History with Plot and Characters
Philbrick takes the shine (and the tarnish) off some of America's most famous figures and leaves them both more and less than we knew. His interpretation in the epilogue of Arnold's role in our country's history is insightful and leaves the reader wondering in a new way about the actual effect of Arnold's treason.
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- Elizabeth
- 08-21-20
one of my favorites books
I loved this book from beginning to end. It is a compelling view into the drama and politics of the Continental Army mid-war. Philbrick turns these characters into real people who belong to more than just a dry textbook. This is one I will definitely listen to again.
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- A reader
- 10-30-19
Comprehensive yet opinionated
Good research. Interesting history that I wasn’t aware of, but sometimes too much detail. Since Philbrick used (and credited) so many historical sources, I expected a more academic, nuanced take. However, I found instead that the author seemed rather opinionated and to have drawn conclusions about individual’s motives and mental states that could only be conjectures.
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- Anonymous User
- 11-27-21
Valiant Story!
Very well-researched and written. Surprisingly much broader perspective on that critical time in US history that I expected. A delightful tale and prescient warning for today’s US citizens to stay ever-vigilant in defending our precious democracy from those self-serving traitors dressed as patriots.
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- JF2013
- 11-27-18
good book
reader can be tough to listen to, bur story and research are well done. recommend. philbrick is excellent
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- Steve
- 05-27-16
Such a great book and fantastic narration!
This is a well written book about a subject that gets glossed over in many history classes. We all know Arnold the traitor but few know the what, how and why. Philbrick does this smoothly and with Scott Brick's beautiful narration, this book will grab you and not release until the end which is not often said on historical literature and narration. You must listen to this book.
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- burden
- 06-27-16
History come to life- A real page Turner
What did you love best about Valiant Ambition?
The American Revolutionary War suddenly became full of real people with emotions, successes and failures.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Knowing very little about Benedict Arnold, I was at first indignant that he should have been treated so poorly and eventually consumed by dislike of his behavior to his conemporaies and country.
What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Excellent delivery that kept one on edge even though the ultimate results were preordained.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Absolutely!
Any additional comments?
The wealth of documentation in the form of private letters and official records made the reader confident that he was party to an accurate observer of these thrilling episodes.
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Overall
- Bob
- 01-10-17
great research in historiography
Philbrick examines all of the motives, weaknesses and strengths of the principal parties in our nation's founding war. Even for those familiar with the story, the detail that is used by Philbrook is outstanding.
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- seawolf
- 08-11-22
Where's the ending !?
As we listened to this very detailed examination of Arnold's career serving the colonies, I thought this was going to be a glowing review of Benedict Arnold's entire life...until the end! The book seems to abruptly end upon his betrayal. It only briefly mentions his service to the Brits and no discussion of the rest of his days. These were topics I really wanted to hear, but no!
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