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The Traitor's Wife: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Allison Pataki (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 4,436 ratings
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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 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 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 love 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.
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  1. Print length
    498 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Howard Books
  5. Publication date
    February 11, 2014
  6. File size
    2851 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A most impressive debut.” (Philippa Gregory )

“One of the best, best, best historical novels, I was riveted…I couldn’t put it down." (Kathie Lee Gifford, The TODAY Show )

"Pataki smoothly weaves intrigue and personality with critical historical facts...Historical fiction lovers will look forward to more from this promising new novelist." (Publisher's Weekly)

“A well-balanced narrative… events offers fresh perspective, plenty of intrigue and a host of interesting, multidimensional characters." (Kirkus (starred review))

"If you read one book this year, make it Allison Pataki's THE TRAITOR'S WIFE. Few authors have taken on America's Revolutionary War so convincingly, and this story of Benedict Arnold's wife will appeal to lovers of historical fiction everywhere. Highly, highly recommended!" (Michelle Moran, international bestselling author of Madame Tussaud )

"Allison Pataki's captivating debut novel examines history’s most famous tale of treachery through a woman's eyes. Meticulously written and well-researched, this story will transport you back to the American Revolution and keep you turning pages with both its intrigue and love story. The Traitor's Wife is a well-told tale." (Lee Woodruff, author, blogger and television personality )

"I consider this to be the debut of a major writer of historical fiction." (Mary Higgins Clark )

"The Traitor's Wife is a gripping novel steeped in compelling historical detail. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious characters from our nation's past. Ultimately a story about honor and heart, readers will have a hard time putting this book down." (Aidan Donnelley Rowley, author of Life After Yes )

Allison Pataki has given us a great gift: a powerful story of love and betrayal, drawn straight from the swiftly beating heart of the American Revolution. Replete with compelling characters, richly realized settings, a sweeping plot, and a heroine who comes to feel like a dear, familiar friend, The Traitor's Wife is sure to delight readers of romance and lovers of history alike. (Karen Halvorsen Schreck, author of Sing For Me )

"Everything the casual reader of American history thinks they know about Benedict Arnold will be handily upset by the skillful and mesmerizing storytelling of fiction newcomer Allison Pataki. This text is a treasure and a treat." (CBA Retailers and Resources)

About the Author

Allison Pataki is the New York Times bestselling author of five adult fiction novels, one nonfiction memoir, and two children’s books, Nelly Takes New York and Poppy Takes Paris. Allison’s books have been translated into more than twenty languages. A former news writer and producer, Allison graduated cum laude from Yale University with a major in English. An avid traveler and reader, Allison lives in New York with her husband, children, and rescue pup. To learn more and connect with Allison, please visit AllisonPataki.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DPM7UJY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Howard Books (February 11, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 11, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2851 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 498 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1476738602
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 4,436 ratings

About the author

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Allison Pataki

Allison Pataki

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Allison Pataki is the New York Times bestselling author of FINDING MARGARET FULLER, THE MAGNIFICENT LIVES OF MARJORIE POST, THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE, THE TRAITOR'S WIFE, THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS, SISI: EMPRESS ON HER OWN, WHERE THE LIGHT FALLS, as well as the nonfiction memoir BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES and two children's books, NELLY TAKES NEW YORK and POPPY TAKES PARIS. Allison’s novels have been translated into more than twenty languages. A former news writer and producer, Allison has written for The New York Times, ABC News, The Huffington Post, USA Today, Fox News and other outlets. She has appeared on The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, Good Day New York, Good Day Chicago and MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Allison graduated Cum Laude from Yale University with a major in English. A member of The Historical Novel Society and a certified Yoga instructor, Allison lives in New York with her husband and family.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
4,436 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Karen Goldsberry
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating & Historical
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024
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Very interesting story of Peggy Arnold. We have all heard about her husband, Benedict.
But this book tells “The Rest of the Story”. An excellent read.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully researched - an engrossing tale...\
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017
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I loved this novel - I never knew much about Benedict Arnold - and certainly history courses never covered anything about the true criminal behind the transfer of US info to the British. I was truly impressed with the amount of research involved in writing this novel - fact checking showed that the sequence of events was right on. I may have learned what happened to Arnold in school, but had totally forgotten the outcome. I won't spoil it for you - but I was glad to fill in the missing pieces. If you're a historical fiction buff like me, this is a satisfying, comfortable read - with pages turning at a rapid rate. You will want to wring the necks of Benedict's wife's parents for indulging her without boundaries! It's a good read for me, when I know that the characters I'm reading about really lived. Truth is always stranger than fiction!
One person found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Story
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2024
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This story was impossible to put down. I was up half the night and read during the day too. Fascinating, many parts of the story I did not know, very personally full, and an amazing look at our history in the late 1770's through 1804. Another really interesting look at our history. Highly recommend this and her other biographies. So thankful for Allison Pataki.
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Sonia
3.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Was Excepting, But Good
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2020
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The book was good; it was not the best historical fiction I’ve read, but it was a nice, easy read. I think a high schooler whose interested in history could read it, for example. I say that the book was good, not great, because (1) it was written from the POV of a fictional maid, not really the traitor’s WIFE as the title suggests. I would have liked it much better if it was through Peggy Arnold’s eyes, I think. And (2) like I said earlier, I think a high schooler could easily read it (the discussion questions at the end are very good for high schoolers, for example). Not that I don’t like YA novels, I absolutely do! I read them all the time! (I work with high schoolers.) IF THEY’RE VERY WELL WRITTEN. To me, Peggy Arnold (or Peggy Shippen, before she got married to Arnold), reminds me SO much of Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter (sorry, I’m a Potterhead). (She’s also a complete Sytherin through & through.) In the beginning, like Draco, she is a spoiled, rich girl, used to getting anything she wants. However, unlike Draco, she NEVER grows up! She’s still a spoiled, rich “teenager”, who never learns her lesson! I like my characters who learn & grow in the books I read. Also, I think the author spends too much time on young Peggy Shippen. At times, I got so annoyed with her, that I almost put down the book. The “We get that she’s a spoiled, rich girl, now move on please”, kind of feeling. I would have liked it better if we’ve gotten more of her marriage to Arnold & what that was like, again, from her POV.
6 people found this helpful
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booger
4.0 out of 5 stars The Traitor's wife, by Allison Pataki
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2014
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Anybody who likes history and studied the complex period of time when United States were fighting to establish Independence would know the names of the people who fought side by side with general Washington. Between them was a general, a war hero Benedict Arnold. A man who by his bravery lead soldiers to winning in a couple of crucial for a young Republic battles. He also was the one who fed and paid his soldiers. No money where provided by a young Congress and General Washington Government. The novel gives us an insight into his complex life, his marriage to a young and beautiful Peggy Shippen. Peggy an ambitious and ruthless Philadelphia socialite was a royalist, her devotion and aspirations was to be a part of an English aristocracy. She skillfully uses her husband's financial problems, Congress never approved amount to be paid back to the general. His name never signed to the Declaration of Independence and Peggy playing on all unrealized ambitions, manages to get her husband to cooperate with her old fiends from British army. There is a very interesting character of Clara, a maid to a demanding and selfish Margaret. As far as Peggy is concerned Clara is a nobody, so when circumstances call for it Clara is summoned to accompany her mistress and general to a meeting with a British spy. Clara is bright and is the very best of a human being, she is all her mistress is not, calm, hardworking, loyal and no longer naive. Years spent with Peggy taught her something. She plays along with the demand of joining the spy by a long river trip. But Clara finds a way to notify her fiancee, who is not far in the army fighting on on a side of a republic and general Washington about the plans of now a traitor general and his wife to give up without a struggle fort of West Point, and a plan to kill general Washington while he visits West Point. So the intrigue grows, but at the end the traitors lost. One can admire the historical research Alison Pataki has put into writing. Of course its a fiction, but all the characters existed in history and at that time the writer is describing. Novel is written quite skilfully, may be sometimes a degree of predictability is there, but its not sliding down in generalizations. The conflict of real people, who even at their worst still have a second side to their story is there. The reader easily can have moments of sympathy with either side. I can recommend that as a pleasurable reading to anybody who enjoys reading as an entertainment, but and meantime gets more knowledge about that very important time in a life of young republic.
3 people found this helpful
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Rebecca H. Augustine
5.0 out of 5 stars Peggy Shippen Arnold--Ambitious, Spoiled, or Both?
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024
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What could someone like the pretty, young Peggy Shippen, the dashing British Major John Andre, and the much older General Benedict Arnold have in common with each other? Unfortunately, the three of them would sell their own souls for the possibility of fleeting wealth and glory--which might not even materialize! How might they even manage to do this?
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical romance
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2023
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As a History teacher I really enjoyed this book. Allison Pataki is an excellent writer, her research is thorough and she is a good story weaver. After reading trip, this book I read the two series of the life of Sisi. That was the best book I have ever read in my life. You will never be disappointed with this author!
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Trudy Patricia Antoniuk
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
Reviewed in Canada on April 22, 2024
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Excellent read
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sophie
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent roman historique!
Reviewed in France on August 2, 2023
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Excellent, parfait pour l’été !
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DW/JW
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 23, 2018
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Great holiday read.
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Sharon Marshall
5.0 out of 5 stars It was a terrific story, very believable to those of us who ...
Reviewed in Australia on March 26, 2015
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I wish I had a long list of books authored by Allison Pataki, just waiting for me to read them. This book had me turning pages and not ever wanting to put it down. It was a terrific story, very believable to those of us who grew up in a particular era and location and who have worked in the consular/political/diplomatic world. The ending was surprising...loved it.
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BJS
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2021
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If you enjoy American History this book is well written - although classed as a novel, this is based on a true story.
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