Collector’s note for George Washington & Benedict Arnold
Phil Rice

The birthing of a nation necessarily involves personalities of heroic and mythical proportions, and those personalities become embedded in the very history of the people who trace their beginning to such a birth. George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots chronicles the lives of two of the most well-known figures of the American Revolution and the dramatic turn of events that would lead one to become our nation’s first president and the other to become one of history’s most notorious villains, one to become known as the Father of Our Country while the other to become synonymous with treason and betrayal. Dave R. Palmer’s dual biography paints not just a portrait of each man but provides remarkable insight into the evolution of each man’s character, from birth through the conclusion of the Revolutionary War. While Washington’s childhood is fairly well-known, Palmer offers a rare glimpse into Arnold’s formative years and reveals the surprising parallels in the early lives of the two men.

Both powerful personalities and natural leaders, Washington and Arnold rose quickly within the military ranks and each would go on to play significant roles in the first three years of the Revolutionary War, with Washington as commander of the Continental Army and Arnold as one of his best generals. Known for his reckless courage and daring, Arnold made invaluable contributions to the Patriots’ cause, including important victories at Fort Ticonderoga, Quebec, and Saratoga. But his heroic accomplishments were largely overlooked by the Continental Congress, and personal and political attacks from fellow commanders and inferior soldiers coupled with multiple battle injuries began to take its toll on the proud military leader.

While taking the reader through the enthralling events of the Revolutionary War, Palmer also delves into the significant differences in the nature and character of the two leaders that would ultimately lead them to diverge on dramatically different paths. As Washington held his temper and chose to rise above adversity, Arnold became increasingly disillusioned and bitter, and the man who had fought so courageously for his country would eventually turn to treason in the book’s gripping climax. Thus the central issue of character, an issue that has increasingly entered the consciousness of the nation, becomes pivotal in the development of the fledgling society that would become the United States of America.

Author Dave R. Palmer is a graduate and former superintendent of West Point and a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. Palmer is an accomplished military historian, especially known for his studies of the American Revolution, having authored such notable titles as The Way of the Fox: American Strategy in the War for America, 1775­-1783; George Washington: First in War; and 1794: America, Its Army, and the Birth of a Nation. A two-tour veteran of Vietnam, General Palmer is also the author of the acclaimed The Summons of the Trumpet: U.S.-Vietnam in Perspective.

Complemented with detailed maps and illustrations and an excellent bibliography, George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots is an eloquent and comprehensive look at a seminal chapter of history with which every American should be familiar, offering not only an intriguing story but an important moral on the strength of character, a moral that applies to the present political shape of the world as much as to the past. As the author states, "Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your character. Your character becomes your destiny. The lives of George Washington and Benedict Arnold bear profound witness to the proposition that character is destiny."

A scholarly study written with the flair of a fine novel, Palmer’s history offers a fresh perspective on both subjects, and his text deserves its recognition as being among the pantheon of great titles detailing the emergence of the United States of America from the inspiring rag-tag ensemble so frequently referred to as “the founding fathers.”

This handsome Easton Press edition features genuine leather binding adorned with gold stamping on the front cover and further accented by 22-kt gold stamping on a spine that features hubs in the traditional style of classic bookbinding. The archival-quality paper has been specially milled for this edition and the book block boasts gold gilt on all three edges. These and other features enhance the perfect craftsmanship and permanence befitting George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots, a title well-deserving of its place among your Leather-Bound Library of Military History.