Thursday, February 6, 2014

The Traitor's Wife Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

http://www.kismetbt.com/upcoming-tour/the-traitors-wife-by-allison-pataki

Today I'm pleased to welcome author Allison Pataki to the blog to give us a closer look at one of history's most famous traitors, Benedict Arnold, as part of the promotional tour for her new release, The Traitor's Wife. She's also generously offering up a Kindle Paperwhite, so be sure and check the bottom of the post for all the giveaway details as well as the full list of participating blogs. Welcome to Supernatural Snark Allison!

CHARACTER PORTRAIT
Who was Benedict Arnold and how did he turn from ardent patriot
to shamed traitor?

There’s so much more to the life of Benedict Arnold than just the fateful decision he made to betray the American Revolution. I hope that readers of The Traitor’s Wife will come away from the book with a deeper understanding of who this infamous man was, and how myriad factors – including his marriage, his military career, and his personal demons – helped mold him into history’s most notorious turncoat.

Benedict Arnold’s story began in the colony of Connecticut, where he was a successful businessman and one of the earliest and most outspoken patriots advocating separation from the British. In 1775, Arnold led a force to capture Fort Ticonderoga and its supply of British cannons in what marks the first outright victory of the American Revolution. But even as early as that, though Arnold’s military prowess and courage were applauded, he became embroiled in internecine rivalries and feuds.

Though both Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen had led the joint mission to Fort Ticonderoga, Ethan Allen and his beloved Green Mountain Boys received the credit. Some of Allen’s men, drunk after the victory, reportedly held a pistol to Arnold’s chest when Arnold demanded that they stop looting and drinking.

During the Battle of Quebec, when Arnold was first shot in the left leg, he held out with just his rag-tag team of men for the winter of 1775-76. It was a punishing mission, during which the men faced below freezing temperatures and the threat of starvation. Arnold paid and fed his men with his own fortune throughout the siege, writing on multiple occasions that he was fully prepared to die for the Revolution.

Arnold fought on Lake Champlain, preventing a British naval invasion, while his colleagues were in Philadelphia during the summer of 1776, signing their names to the immortal Declaration of Independence. Arnold fought the British alone in Norwalk, Connecticut, where his horse was shot out from under him.

The one battle where Arnold finally earned the recognition that was his due was the Battle of Saratoga, the undisputed turning point of the war. Arnold’s tactical genius allowed the Continental Army to repel the British attack. Then, defying the orders of his commander, Arnold led the crushing counterattack to defeat the British. It was during this battle that Arnold was shot a second time in his left leg.

In spite of his skill in battle, Arnold seemed to have no skill in making friends. He was passed over for promotions constantly; he was never reimbursed by the Continental Congress for the thousands of dollars he had spent; and he was never again able to walk without pain. He saw himself constantly belittled by his colleagues. Throughout the early years of war, though the American people adored him, it seemed that Arnold’s only ally in the army was General George Washington.

It was after all of these battles and feuds had occurred that Arnold assumed his role as military commander in Philadelphia. In that city, Arnold used his position of power to sell the confiscated goods from Philadelphia shops and merchants on the black market. This earned him a court martial, a censure from his former champion, George Washington, and more bad press.

By this time, Arnold felt embittered by the numerous slights and attacks being leveled by his own side. He was in pain and facing near financial ruin. And, he happened to have a beautiful new wife. Peggy Shippen Arnold was a Philadelphia belle half his age. A clever and charming young woman who happened to favor the British cause. When Peggy suggested that her beleaguered husband write to a “friend” of hers, a British spy by the name of Major John André, Arnold agreed. It was that correspondence that ultimately led to Arnold’s decision to betray the American cause and defect to the British.

It’s interesting to mull these circumstances over and ask how it might have gone differently for the fallen patriot. Was Arnold treated unfairly by his side, causing him to become irretrievably bitter? Or was Arnold a difficult personality who invited this enmity? Was he a man who could negotiate the dangers of a battlefield but had no ability to navigate human relationships? Did Peggy have the deciding influence in her husband’s decision, or had he already soured on the cause that had once been his life’s purpose? We can never truly know. But, unfortunately for Arnold, he got one big decision wrong. And that decision, to turn to the British, is how history remembers him.

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THE TRAITOR'S WIFE


A riveting historical novel about Peggy Shippen Arnold, the cunning wife of Benedict Arnold and mastermind behind America’s most infamous act of treason.

Everyone knows Benedict Arnold—the infamous Revolutionary War General who betrayed America and fled to the British as history’s most notorious turncoat. Many know Arnold’s co-conspirator, Major John André, who was apprehended with Arnold’s documents in his boots and hanged at the orders of General George Washington. But few know of the integral third character in the plot; a charming and cunning young woman, who not only contributed to the betrayal but orchestrated it.

Socialite Peggy Shippen is half Benedict Arnold’s age when she seduces the war hero during his stint as Military Commander of Philadelphia. Blinded by his young bride’s beauty and wit, Arnold does not realize that she harbors a secret: loyalty to the British. Nor does he know that she hides a past romance with the handsome British spy John André. Peggy watches as her husband, crippled from battle wounds and in debt from years of service to the colonies, grows ever more disillusioned with his hero, Washington, and the American cause. Together with her former lover and her disaffected husband, Peggy hatches the plot to deliver West Point to the British and, in exchange, win fame and fortune for herself and Arnold.

Told from the perspective of Peggy’s maid, whose faith in the new nation inspires her to intervene in her mistress’s affairs even when it could cost her everything, The Traitor’s Wife brings these infamous figures to life, illuminating the sordid details and the love triangle that nearly destroyed the American fight for freedom.




 • • • • • • • • • • • 

ALLISON PATAKI


ALLISON PATAKI grew up in upstate New York, in the same neighborhood where Benedict and Peggy Arnold once lived. Allison attended Yale University, where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in English. While at Yale, Allison received Distinction in the Major from the English department and served as a campus reporter and news anchor for the student-run campus television program, YTV News.

The daughter of former New York State Governor George E. Pataki, Allison was inspired to write The Traitor’s Wife: A Novel of Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America based on the rich Revolutionary War history of her hometown in New York State’s Hudson Highlands.

Allison spent several years writing for television and digital news outlets prior to transitioning to fiction. The Traitor’s Wife: A Novel of Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America is Allison’s first novel.

Allison lives in Chicago with her husband.


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GIVEAWAY
Be sure and check out all the tour stops for more guest posts, interviews, and chances to win!



27 comments:

  1. Ruined by a beautiful young woman... Well, that's certainly not unusual.
    I generally cringe at the words 'love triangle', but I do love these types of stories that show a different side of some historical event.
    This seems to be a very ambitious, very well-researched debut and I'm extremely excited about it.
    Thanks for sharing this, Jenny!

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  2. I love the trailer for this awesome book!
    Amyc

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  3. Ooh, I love historical novels, especially those which rely on true facts to make up their narrative and not just a time period or setting. I'll be adding this to my TBR for sure, so thanks for introducing it to me, Jenny!(:

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  4. I am obsessed with historical novels and this one sounds right up my alley. I am definitely going to add this to my TBR list. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  5. Great guest post! I'm not overly familiar with all the details and battles of the Revolutionary War so I didn't realize all the good Arnold did before his betrayal (Arnold, curse your sudden and inevitable betrayal! Heh.). Sounds like the wife was definitely an influencing factor but maybe more of a straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back factor.

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  6. While I do love historical novels, I don't think this one is for me, honestly. It doesn't really appeal to me.
    I know a lot of people have been enjoying it though. :)
    Thanks for sharing, Jenny.

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  7. I'm a big fan of historical novels, and I love the premise and setup of this one. I think it sounds like something I'd really enjoy…especially now that I have more time to read! Lovely feature, Jenny! :)

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  8. I love historical fiction, so I will have to add this to the pile of books I have. Thanks for letting me know about this one Jenny

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  9. I ordered a copy of this one for my library because I thought the synopsis was fantastic. I hope it circulates well!

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  10. This sounds fascinating and I admit, I know very little about his true story let alone the story of his wife.
    Loved this guest post!

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  11. I guess when life gives you lemons, you can't always make juice. You don't want to and you don't even know how. That's how I feel about this story. I feel bad for the guy, but I think that it'd be interesting to read about his journey, though I rarely read historical fiction so I'm going to have to think about it. Thanks for sharing, Jenny:)

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  12. Great guest post, Jenny. I love historical novels and The Traitor's Wife sounds so interesting. I like that it's actually told from the perspective of Peggy’s maid. Thanks for giving us a behind the scene look at this cunning wife of Benedict Arnold, and mastermind behind America’s most infamous act of treason.

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  13. Yup this one does kind of scream my name ;)

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  14. I have been enjoying all of the guest posts on this tour and look forward to reading the Traitor's Wife.

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  15. This was such a great story. I loved the perspective she wrote about a history that I remember learning. It was very unique and beautifully written.

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  16. I knew it! Love triangles destroy nations. ;) I knew they were evil. This does sound interesting. Of course we know the sketch about Benedict Arnold and I've heard of Peggy but really didn't know the story. Interesting!

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  17. You do wonder at the turning point. Great to mull over thank you.

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  18. I've been thinking that this sounds fascinating! I wish that there was a way to really actually know more about it all.

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  19. Definitely a great premise to take a "well known" tale and look at it from another perspective!

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  20. would so love to read this book!!!
    thank you for the giveaway!!!

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  21. I love history and since I haven't read much about this time, I think The Traitor's Wife sounds like a really wonderful read.

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  22. this book sounds fantastic! I love reading books based around real events b/c the different perspectives and what ifs make that event seem so much more real :) Thanks for sharing!

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  23. I love historical fiction that goes deeper into very public figures and humanizes them. I'm curious to see how the maid's loyalties clash with those of her mistress and how it all plays out. Lovely guest post, thanks for sharing! :-)

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  24. I honestly didn't even know that much about Benedict Arnold just that he was a traitor. I had no idea there was such an interesting story behind it all. Sounds like a very interesting story. Thanks Jenny!

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  25. I have always wondered about Arnold Benedict's wife after the American Revolution War was won.

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  26. This sounds really good Jenny! I never read a good medieval book before. Will have to pick this up.

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