July History Bk Club - "Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold..."

We have arrived at the beginning of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and - no doubt, this group will read its fair share of related books - starting this July. Nathaniel Philbrick wrote three books on the war for independence. This is the middle of the three: Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution. It captures a short time period within the larger war, starting in 1776 when Washington was less certain of the path forward, and Arnold seemed to do no wrong. Their positions reversed over the next four years, and this book tells that story.

Here is what the publisher has to say about the book:

"Valiant Ambition is a complex, controversial, and dramatic portrait of a people in crisis and the war that gave birth to a nation. The focus is on loyalty and personal integrity, evoking a Shakespearean tragedy that unfolds in the key relationship of Washington and Arnold, who is an impulsive but sympathetic hero whose misfortunes at the hands of self-serving politicians fatally destroy his faith in the legitimacy of the rebellion. As a country wary of tyrants suddenly must figure out how it should be led, Washington’s unmatched ability to rise above the petty politics of his time enables him to win the war that really matters."

Please remember that this is, first and foremost, a book club. Like any local book club, the point is discussion about a shared experience - reading the book! It is not a lecture series. So as usual, get yourself a copy, read it, then join us for another interesting discussion. We continue to meet virtually because so many of our members now join us from locations outside the D.C area.

A zoom link to the discussion will be sent a day before the meeting.