Willard Sterne Randall
Auteur van Thomas Jefferson: A Life
Over de Auteur
Willard Sterne Randall is an American historian and author who specializes in biographies related to the American colonial period and the American Revolution. He was born on March 13, 1942 in Philadelphia, PA. His books include: A Little Revenge: Benjamin Franklin & His Son, Benedict Arnold: toon meer Patriot and Traitor, Thomas Jefferson: A Life and Ethan Allen: His Life and Times. Randall also teaches American history at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. (Bowker Author Biography) toon minder
Fotografie: via author's website
Werken van Willard Sterne Randall
Gerelateerde werken
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Winter 1992 (1991) — Author "Mrs. Benedict Arnold" — 18 exemplaren
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MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Spring 1994 (1994) — Author "The Other D-Day" — 16 exemplaren
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Summer 1990 (1990) — Author "Benedict Arnold at Quebec" — 14 exemplaren
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Summer 1993 (1993) — Author "Pacifist at War" — 14 exemplaren
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Summer 1999 (1999) — Author "Washington's Struggle for Survival" — 11 exemplaren
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Winter 2001 (2000) — Author "Colonel Benjamin Franklin" — 10 exemplaren
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Winter 2008 (2007) — Author "The First American Victory" — 8 exemplaren
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Autumn 2002 (2002) — Author "The Fighting Federalist" — 7 exemplaren
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History — Spring 2020 (2020) — Author "Burgoyne's Big Fail" — 1 exemplaar
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- Officiële naam
- Randall, Willard Sterne
- Geboortedatum
- 1942-03-13
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- Nationaliteit
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- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Woonplaatsen
- Burlington, Vermont, USA
Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - Opleiding
- Princeton University (MA|1984)
Thomas Edison State University (BS|1982 - Beroepen
- professor
historian
journalist - Organisaties
- Champlain College
Philadelphia Bulletin
Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Magazine
Time-Life News Service - Prijzen en onderscheidingen
- National Magazine Award for Public Service
Standard Gravure Award
Hillman Prize
Loeb Award
John Hancock Prize
Thomas Fleming Award (2019) - Agent
- Deborah Grosvenor
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Benedict Arnold is best known for his vicious turn against the American Revolution. His name is a synonym for betrayal, for total faithlessness. This book puts his turn from glorious heroism into the context of its time. The American revolutionaries were a ragtag group of rebels. The one thing that what became the United States was not was a country. What Benedict Arnold betrayed was a rebel movement. History being written by the victors, the U.S. is treated by many as a country as of July 4, 1776, not 1787 when the Constitution was written, or when George Washington took the oath of office in New York City on April 30, 1789.
Benedict Arnold was an undoubted hero from 1774 when he took up arms for the Revolution for a bit more than four years, when the betrayal started. The betrayal came to a head in September or October 1780 when he attempted to turn over West Point to John Andre, a British officer. During the "heroic" period he was grievously wounded not once but twice. He spearheaded an invasion of Quebec City from Maine that nearly took what is now Canada for the revolutionaries.
He and Ethan Allen are rivals for credit for seizing Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 and then helping win the crucial Battle of Saratoga in 1777. That battle, in turn, led directly to French and Dutch recognition and military and financial support for the Revolution. In short it is possible that "no Benedict Arnold, no United States." This is rarely remembered. In no way is Benedict Arnold another Vidkund Quisling, Pierre Laval or Julius or Ethel Rosenberg.
The "thanks" he got from the Continental Congress and corrupt military leaders was to go unpaid, unthanked and passed over for credit and promotion. He advanced considerable resources to pay soldiers and for military supplies. In his mind, at some point, "enough is enough." Part of the factor seems also have been a steamy affair leading to his second marriage, to Peggy Shippen. Peggy was part of a well-known and wealthy Loyalist Family.
None of this, in my mind, excuses treason. But some leaders should know that when "no good deed goes unpunished" the results are often not good.
Not surprisingly, the British gratitude for Benedict Arnold's turn against the Revolution was fleeting. They did not honor their promises to Benedict. The main moral of the story, I suppose, is that loyalty is a fundamental value, abandoned at peril.… (meer)