Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious. The author on the fortress walls of conwy castle, wales. A novel by allison pataki and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A young, tenuretrack professor in boston, shes earned career success by studying the history of magic in colonial america especially womens home recipes and medicines and by exposing societys threats against women fluent in those skills. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. I loved her first book the heretic s daughtersome fiction, very historical. Great for fans of historical novels, the traitor s wife gives an inside look into the politics and culture of the american colonies while shedding light on the intrigue that gave our language a depiction of a turncoat benedict arnold. Loved it originally titled, the wolves of andover, the traitor s wife is a prequel to the heretic s daughter. The traitor s wife, her first novel, was the winner of foreword magazine s 2005 silver award for historical fiction and was a gold medalist, historicalmilitary fiction, 2008 independent publisher book awards. A novel of the reign of edward ii, set in fourteenthcentury england. From the bedchamber to the battlefield, through treachery and fidelity, one woman is imprisoned by the secrets of the crown. History is so often written from the perspective of the men who seem to be the prime movers and shakers, but.
If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. I hardly knew anything about peggy arnold and was intrigued about reading about what the wife of such an infamous man was like. Jan 01, 2014 the traitor s wife is the story of clara, a maid to peggy shippen, who becomes peggy arnold, wife of benedict arnold, quite possibly the united states greatest traitor. The traitors wife ebook king county library system. A bewitching tale of treachery and betrayal set in fourteenthc. Ultimately a story about honor and heart, readers will have a hard time putting this book down. Kathleen kent talks to descendants about the history and research for the traitor s wife. We have certainly heard of benedict arnold but it was fun meeting his very cunning wife.
The traitors wife is a gripping novel steeped in compelling historical detail. The mainand, in my opinion, more interestingcharacter is clara, the maid to mrs. If you read one book this year, make it allison patakis the traitors wife. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new. But daniel knew from his wife, patience, that for all the old mans parsimonious airs, he swore, drank hard ale, and gambled at dice whenever, and wherever, the opportunity arose, and was tighter than a tick paying for anything he couldnt raise from the ground or fashion himself from driftwood. The characters are marvelous and they live and breathe on these pages. Her debut novel, the traitors wife, came out in 2014 and her second novel, the accidental empress, came out in february 2015. The red book, where all the attending carrier descendants signed their names. Janie van duyvil expected to fend off rumors at her brothers twelfth night ballthose are par for the course in new yorks turnofthecentury social scenebut when her brother bayard is found murdered with a knife in his chest, and bays wife annabelle is presumed drowned in the river beside the. This is the story of martha allen and her romance with thomas carrier during colonial times in the newly colonized america. Few authors have taken on americas revolutionary war so convincingly, and this story of benedict arnolds wife will appeal to lovers of historical fiction everywhere. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the traitors wife. Royal intrigue, mild romance in actionpacked fantasy.
The tale of benedict arnold going from the revolution s hero to its bane has always been a fascinating one, and it only becomes more so as more research has been done on it and the hand that arnold s wife, peggy shippen arnold, had in the turning of arnold s coat. I loved the attention to detail and accuracy of the setting, the detail of events. In the traitors wife, allison pataki brings to life an intriguing slice of american history, told from the perspective of peggys maid, clara bell, who must decide where her own loyalties lie. Everyone knows benedict arnoldthe revolutionary war general who betrayed america. The traitor s wife has all the ingredients for a great story. Feb 06, 2014 the traitor s wife reads much more quickly than its nearly 500page length suggests. Feb 11, 2014 a young ladys maid is witness to benedict arnold and his wifes treachery in this fictional account set during the american war for independence.
Book club guide the traitors wife by allison pataki. The traitors wife by susan higginbotham nook book ebook. Through the eyes of a fictional ladys maid, the historical figures of peggy arnold and her husband, benedictyes, the traitorcome to life in this debut historical novel by the daughter of. The traitors wife allison pataki, 2014 howard books 496 pp. The narrator did a horrible job of portraying the male characters in the book, her voice was not deep enough, and often failed to convey when man was speaking. The traitors wife promises to tell the story of peggy shippen, the wife of infamous traitor benedict arnold. Descendants gather to pay homage at the martha carrier witch trial memorial. This book the traitor s wife follows along the same story line. The woman behind benedict arnold and the plan to betray america thorndike press lrg hardcover aug 21, 2014 hardcover. Radar pictures has acquired the feature film and television rights to allison patakis novel the traitors wife. A love story and a tale of courage, the traitors wife confirms kathleen kents ability to craft powerful stories from the dramatic background of americas earliest days. The traitors wife by allison pataki escape reality.
Allison pataki is a new york times bestselling author with a passion for telling the stories of leading ladies lost in history. That is the proposition, more or less, put forward by firsttime author allison pataki in her work of historical fiction, the traitors wife. Kathleen kent is the author of the edgar awardnominated the dime, as well as the bestselling historical novels the heretic s daughter, the traitor s wife, and the outcasts. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious characters from our nation s past. She provides visually appealing scenesetting details on the shippens upperclass philadelphia household and looks beyond the famous figures to portray the less privileged lives of their servants. Connie goodwin is an expert on americas fractured past with witchcraft. If you want to know about a moment that could have spelled the end of america then this is the book for you. The traitors wife reads much more quickly than its nearly 500page length suggests. Everyone knows benedict arnoldthe revolutionary war general who betrayed america and fled to the britishas historys most notorious turncoat. Very interesting twist on the life of benedict arnold.
The traitors wife by allison pataki, paperback barnes. I dont know if someone told er to put in some not so nice scenes that did not need to be in the storyvery disapointing. The traitors wife kindle edition by higginbotham, susan. As the reigning belle of philadelphia society during the british occupation of 1778, she is admired by men and envied by women. The traitors wife is full of details that make you feel you are there and witnessing these events as they happened. The traitors wife is the story of clara, a maid to peggy shippen, who becomes peggy arnold, wife of benedict arnold, quite possibly the united states greatest traitor. The new title is more befitting since the wolves are a minor detail throughout the story. Mar 17, 2014 the traitor s wife is full of details that make you feel you are there and witnessing these events as they happened. This is the first novel from pataki, daughter of former new york state governor george e. Her novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Great for fans of historical novels, the traitors wife gives an inside look into the politics and culture of the american colonies while shedding light on the intrigue that gave our language a depiction of a turncoat benedict arnold. Jul 11, 2007 a teaser for my historical novel the traitor s wife.
Susan higginbothams vivid portrayal of life during edward iis tumultuous reign makes for. A novel 9780316068642 by kent, kathleen and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. I hardly knew anything about peggy arnold and was intrigued about reading about. That is the proposition, more or less, put forward by firsttime author allison pataki in her work of historical fiction, the traitor s wife. The traitors wife is the best kind of historical fiction. Loved it originally titled, the wolves of andover, the traitors wife is a prequel to the heretics daughter. Susan higginbotham is the author of seven historical novels, including hanging mary, the stolen crown, and the queen of last hopes. If you would like a signed copy of an event book but are unable to attend the event or the event has already occurred, place the book in your cart and indicate. The years in between are full of challenges, which the title character rises to admirably. Be part of the worlds largest community of book lovers on goodreads.
Susan higginbothams vivid portrayal of life during edward iis tumultuous reign makes for fascinating reading. Sep 14, 2016 radar pictures has acquired the feature film and television rights to allison patakis novel the traitors wife. Pataki writes lyrically and succeeds in bringing to life, and humanizing, notorious characters from our nations past. A young ladys maid is witness to benedict arnold and his wifes treachery in this fictional account set during the american war for independence. Jan 09, 2014 a riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind america s most infamous act of treason. The traitors wife, her first novel, was the winner of foreword magazines 2005 silver award for historical fiction and was a gold medalist, historicalmilitary fiction, 2008 independent publisher book awards. We had never read anything about the revolutionary war era and we really enjoyed learning about this time period. The tale of benedict arnold going from the revolutions hero to its bane has always been a fascinating one, and it only becomes more so as more research has been done on it and the hand that arnolds wife, peggy shippen arnold, had in the turning of arnolds coat. A ny times bestselling historical fiction novel by allison pataki. A riveting historical novel about peggy shippen arnold, the cunning wife of benedict arnold and mastermind behind americas most infamous act of treason, the traitors wife is told from the perspective of peggys maid, whose faith in the new nation inspires her to intervene in her mistresss affairs even when it could cost her everything. Traitors wife movie on benedict arnolds spouse in the.
The traitor s wife is a gripping novel steeped in compelling historical detail. A teaser for my historical novel the traitors wife. Allison pataki is the author of the bestselling novels sisi, the traitor s wife, and the accidental empress, as well as the coauthor of where the light falls, with her brother owen pataki, and two children s books. The woman behind benedict arnold and the plan to betray america, variety. While the book is exceptionally wellwritten and full of interesting twists and turns, dont be fooled by the title. This book the traitors wife follows along the same story line. The traitors wife has all the ingredients for a great story.
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