Buy used:

$22.49

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery: Wednesday, June 9 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Details

Used: Very Good | Details

Sold by JBacc Books

Fulfilled by Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Author

Jim Murphy

The Real Benedict Arnold Hardcover – September 17, 2007

by Jim Murphy (Author)

10 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$22.49

$41.00

$0.96

Hardcover
$22.49

30 Used from $0.96 6 New from $41.00 2 Collectible from $20.00

Every account of the American Revolution mentions Benedict Arnold and brands him—correctly—as a traitor. There’s no question that Arnold, an American army officer, switched his loyalty to the British side. Over the years, however, historians, partisans, and gossips have added to Arnold’s unsavory reputation by distorting, embroidering, or simply ignoring factual details.
In this informed and thoughtful account, Jim Murphy goes in search of the real man behind the “traitor” label, rumors, and folktales that became part of the Benedict Arnold legend. Drawing on Arnold’s few surviving writings and on the letters, memoirs, and political documents of his contemporaries, Murphy builds a fascinating portrait of a brilliant man, consistently undervalued by his peers, who made a choice that continues to reverberate through American history. Dramatic accounts of crucial battles and political maneuvers round out this lively biography of a patriot who could have been a hero.

Reading age

10 - 12 years
Print length

272 pages
Language

English
Grade level

5 - 7
Lexile measure

1240L
Dimensions

7 x 0.96 x 9.5 inches
Publisher

Clarion Books
Publication date

September 17, 2007
ISBN-10

0395776090
ISBN-13

978-0395776094
See all details

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Steve Sheinkin
160
Paperback
$11.99
Esther Hoskins Forbes
1,362
Paperback
$7.99
Jim Murphy
50
Hardcover
$15.26
Jim Murphy
35
Hardcover
54 offers from $1.56
Joanna Foster
86
Paperback
$17.95
William Kamkwamba
2,445
Paperback
in Teen & Young Adult Science & Technology Biographies
$8.99

More items to explore

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Peter Van den Ende
116
Hardcover
$12.68
David Macaulay
161
Hardcover
$29.03
Amy Timberlake
394
Hardcover
$14.49
Sophie Blackall
391
Hardcover
$16.68
Kao Kalia Yang
97
Library Binding
$13.99
WALLIAMS DAVID
7,561
Paperback
$13.66

Get everything you need

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Steve Sheinkin
266
Paperback
$7.99

Special offers and product promotions

Amazon Business: Make the most of your Amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings. Login now
Amazon Business : For business-only pricing, quantity discounts and FREE Shipping. Register a free business account

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Perhaps we can never know the real Arnold, but this splendid biography brings us close ... fascinating reading." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review

"As always, Murphy's prose is clear and detailed.... An important addition to collections on the American Revolution." Kirkus Reviews

This well-developed account will be valuable to Revolutionary War enthusiasts, and the index andf bibliogaphic notes will assist report writers in junior high and beyond.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The author's consideration of other historians' theories and use of sophisicated vocaulary will challenge his audience to think critically and conisder all points of view.
Publishers Weekly

Perhaps we can never know the real Arnold, but this splendid biography brings us close.The final section provides fascinating reading as well as additional resources.
Book Links, ALA

Buffs of the era, military enthusiasts, and biography readers will be entranced by this fascinating, well-researched volume.
School Library Journal, Starred

Murphy examines both rumors and facts about Arnold so that readers can 'see Benedict Arnold in as fair and as objective a way as possible.
Horn Book

This fast-paced, interesting, and well-written book sheds light on who he was before his traitorous act and why he chose to commit it.
VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)

About the Author

Jim Murphy's nonfiction books have received numerous awards, among them two Newbery Honors, the Sibert Medal, three Orbis Pictus awards, the Margaret A. Edwards award, the James Madison Book Award, and a National Book Award nomination. Born and raised in New Jersey, Jim lives in Maplewood, NJ, with his family.
jimmurphybooks.com.

Product details

Publisher : Clarion Books; First Edition (September 17, 2007)
Language : English
Hardcover : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 0395776090
ISBN-13 : 978-0395776094
Reading age : 10 - 12 years
Lexile measure : 1240L
Grade level : 5 - 7
Item Weight : 1.95 pounds
Dimensions : 7 x 0.96 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,583,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,348 in Children's American Revolution History (Books)
- #3,642 in Children's Historical Biographies (Books)
- #85,413 in Children's Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
10 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		57%
4 star		31%
3 star		12%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Annette Lamb

Nonfiction History at It's Best

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014

Verified Purchase

Since learning that my ancestor participated in the March through the Wilderness and Battle of Quebec in 1775, I've been fascinated in Benedict Arnold. The Real Benedict Arnold by Jim Murphy provides insights into the life of this famous general and traitor. Murphy does a wonderful job providing a detailed, yet easy-to-read account of Arnold's rise and fall. Through the use of primary source documents and other historical materials, Murphy addresses the fact and fiction surrounding this legendary figure in American history. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed an engaging biography.

Helpful

L. K. Messner

Fantastic non-fiction for middle grade readers!

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2007

Verified Purchase

Jim Murphy has done it again -- crafted a work of non-fiction so compelling that it will keep kids hooked like an action-packed novel. The fact that Benedict Arnold's life reads like a novel helps. Murphy asks important questions about the man whose name has become synonymous with the word "traitor" and explores those questions with an open mind and an eye for historical detail. THE REAL BENEDICT ARNOLD takes a look at the man behind the label, his early days of the war, his motivations, and the reasons for the decision that ultimately made him infamous.

This is a fascinating book -- one that I'm recommending to teachers as a companion to my own middle grade historical novel SPITFIRE, which tells the story of two young people who were with Benedict Arnold's fleet on Lake Champlain in the fall of 1776. Just as Murphy's AN AMERICAN PLAGUE is a perfect complement to Laurie Halse Anderson's FEVER, this book will prove to be an invaluable resource for teachers looking to add some non-fiction to classroom libraries and discussions.

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

Gary C. Banks

E.A.H.N.

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2010

Verified Purchase

This book puts into perspective the political irony of an individual who was the hero of the Saratoga Revoluntionary Battle and then shunned his deserved military ranking by jealous individuals.
Horatio Gates took the credit for Burgoyne's defeat and Gates never was involved in the outcome.
Saratoga was the turning point in the war with England and Arnold was the on the field leader.
Being from upstate New York, I enjoy reading of history that involves said state.

That said, Arnold's later actions has condemned his name to be referred to forever as a traitor.
Jim Murphy has written an excellent book on the two faces of this hero/villian.

Helpful

mike6

Benedict Arnold revisited

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

I'm reading many books on Benedict Arnold. This one rates high for both contents and clarity. I am glad I found it, and it's worth a look. I enjoyed the illustrations as well. If you have time for only one book on the subject, this is the place to start.

Helpful

Eric P.

Just what you would expect...

Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2009

Verified Purchase

I bought this book for the purpose of research along with other books and got just what I expected: A history book that is well-written and tells an engaging story about Arnold's life.

It talks about many different stages of his life, his childhood and being pushed into adulthood by circumstance, getting into the war, his difficult rise to legendary status, and his sympathetic fall to becoming a traitor.

I would really recommend this book to anyone who is interested in talking a closer look at Arnold's personal life in relation to his public life and life in the service.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mr. Humbug Jr.

Nice Treatment of Benedict Arnold

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2014

Verified Purchase

Easy reading, this biography is apparently intended for junior high school students. I highly recommend it as an antidote for the standard version of the "evil" Arnold taught in elementary school.

Helpful

Robert McDermott

Benedict Arnold

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2013

Verified Purchase

This was a very good book. It was easy to read and it gave you his early life, the why behind his traitor isn't act and then what happened.

Helpful

Brilliant General, flawed person

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2018

A brilliant General, but without the respect or recognition he felt he deserved, he really became a traitor. In reading the book, one really feels for the man, who did so much and received so little. Yet, once he decided to betray his country, he did far more to damage the young nation than most people are even aware about. What he did after was, to me, the most startling thing that I never knew about. How can one acknowledge his accomplishments against his betrayal? One simply cannot.

Helpful

Highly rated by customers

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Pages with related products. See and discover other items: benedict arnold biography

Follow the Author

Similar authors to follow

The Real Benedict Arnold Hardcover – September 17, 2007

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

More items to explore

Get everything you need

Special offers and product promotions

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the Author

Product details

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Highly rated by customers