Treacherous Beauty: Peggy Shippen, The Woman Behind Benedict Arnold's Plot To Betray America

The book Treacherous Beauty explores a question that has been if not overlooked, dismissed for over 200-years. Was Peggy Shippen the woman behind Benedict Arnold's plot to betray America or was she just the naive beautiful wife? This idea is explored by Stephen H. Case and Mark Jacob in what is a modern biography of this mysterious and often overlooked figure in American history. Peggy, born Margaret, became the wife of the infamous Benedict Arnold, was not born into poverty instead she enjoyed the world of high society of 18th century Philadelphia.The book's title leads one to believe it is going to unveil long lost secrets about this beautiful woman and how she was not only behind the plot, but acted as the true mastermind. The authors neither painted a good picture of this nor did they provide enough evidence to support or even suggest that she was either of these behind America's most famous betrayal. Moving through the book the author's informs us that very little is known of her early childhood, sprinkled with a few newer facts but nothing most with a basic history background did not already know. However, the author's do bring up the that she must have received an above average education for a woman in this period, learning most from her father and mother about finances. This was to add to suggest that her being use to money could have been a driving force for her to push her husband toward the plot.This young lady comes of age during the British occupation of Philadelphia in the American Revolution and quickly builds a strong social reputation. Peggy attended balls a social meetings put on by high ranking British elite in Philadelphia. According to the authors she was considered one of the most desired women not only in the city but in attendance to gentleman on both sides of the conflict. During this time she will also befriend the British officer John Andre' who will later be one of the key players in Benedict Arnold's plot to turn West Point over to the British.Moving along the authors did a good job describing how Peggy was considered to be sweet, loving, and beautiful, but also notes how she was not Benedict Arnold's first choice for a wife. Case and Jacob point out "the love note to Peggy . . . included [many] recycled phrases from his [love] letter to Betsy DeBlois . . . [a former potential wife]" (Jacob & Case, 2012, p. 83). However, the two were married on 08 April 1779, and the next which followed is the subject of much debate still today.Although you surmise from the title of the book that Peggy was the woman "behind" the plot, I don't feel that the authors provided enough evidence to paint her as the mastermind. Regrettably, as the story digs deeper into already known history of Benedict Arnold's plot against America, the authors address how most of Peggy's correspondence during this period were destroyed or intentionally burned to keep her from being implemented. Because of these gaps in Peggy's life, the story focuses on the plot to betray America by Arnold, this is due to the very detailed historical trail that was left behind a by him and John Andre his British conspirator. Leaving the reader with only a hypothesis that Peggy was behind the plot.Even though they failed to build a string case against Peggy as the mastermind a good case was built that she was not the poor innocent wife also betrayed by Arnold who knew nothing. An assumption can be made that she not only knew but helped him even nudged him along when he may have been having a change of heart. What Case and Jacob did do well was use all available resources to them and create a resounding narrative of Peggy Shippen from her birth in the mid 18th century through the occupation of the British of Philadelphia during the Revolution and ultimately to the betrayal of America. The authors also insured they annotated the years following in England and the continued struggles of not only a man without a country for Benedict Arnold but the struggle for his wife Peggy and their children.As a whole for a book this authors did as very good job on linking known facts with a few unknown ones. I personally wish there would have been more on Peggy, to me she is still as mysterious as she was before buying and reading the book.

I have been interested in Benedict Arnold since junior high school, thanks in part to Kenneth Roberts historical novels; so we are talking over 60 years. This is due partly to the common places of our birth. I grew up about 20 miles from B A's birth town in which he was born, raised, struggled and had his first successful business and marriage; Norwich CT. I have read numerous books and articles about him and even have a poster of him hanging in my bedroom. I had very little knowledge of his second wife, Peggy Shippen, only the tales told in bits and pieces in various media. This is supposed to be the first book researched and authentic about P. Shippen. We have waited over 200 years. Maybe we should wait another 200 years! It's going to take me 200 years to read this book. I am a fast reader and adore historical figures. But after reading for 3 days I am only on page 34!It is very dull and drags. I find myself daydreaming and wondering when the real "good stuff" will appear. Granted, I am not even half way through and I could be quite wrong about my assessment. Check back with me in maybe December when I've almost finished it. Wish me luck. Good for historical reseach but don't expect an exciting read!

An engrossing read about Margaret Shippen (Arnold), whose true role as facilitator of Benedict Arnold's 'turn' was whitewashed by a family who nearly destroyed all damning evidence of her actions and the prominent Revolutionary leaders snookered by her charm, beauty and impressive acting skills (shockingly, Washington and Hamilton were among the shrewd players taken in by her dramatic ruse following the unraveling of the plot).After reading the book, I still don't get a clear understanding of her relationship with Arnold nor of the lonely years in exile raising his brood while the feckless former hero of Saratoga pursued one quixotic venture after another, in the process dissipating the family's fortunes. One curious anecdote relates how Madame Arnold invested some of her husband's bribe back into US banks, who thought nothing unseemly about the source of the deposit.Little is further revealed about the true nature of Peggy's relationship with Major John Andrê the hapless British spymaster. Recently portrayed in the semi-fictionalized series, "Turn" as Peggy's love interest, Messrs. Case and Jacob present circumstantial evidence that this is likely a contrived relationship, notwithstanding the lock of hair he actually gave her as a memento. The authors further notes that the good Major was rumored at the time to have been the lover of British North America Commander, General Henry Clinton.The dramatic undoing of the conspiracy to take West Point and end the Rebellion, reads like a fast-paced spy novel as double and triple agents play their parts. Unknown to this day is what Washington and his Intelligence Chief, Major Benjamin Talmadge knew beforehand or what drove André's inexplicable series of amateurish and fatal errors in blatant violation of direct orders from his commander. Washington's presence nearby and relatively restrained reaction to the defection, the sudden appearance of Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton (Washington's aide de camp) and Maj. Talmadge as André's interrogators and guards hours after his capture hints at an elaborate trap laid for the all-too-clever André.He was subsequently lionized in Britain as a martyr to the cause of Empire but during his tenure as British Intelligence Chief, probably sent his share of now-nameless American civilians to the gallows on the mere suspicion of espionage. And unlike his own courts martial before ranking Continental generals, patriot spy Nathan Hale was summarily executed and tossed into Manhattan's East River yet André lies in a place of honor in Westminster Abbey. Good PR carries you far, even in death.