Benedict Arnold: A Drama of the American Revolution in Five Acts by Robert ZubrinA Book Review by Thomas Lindaman When you look at the American Revolution, there are many famous figures that come to mind, from George Washington to Benjamin Franklin. Yet, one name that has gained infamy from that time period is Benedict Arnold. Arnold’s name has been synonymous with treachery and traitorous activity for centuries. But we may not know the reasoning behind his actions. Robert Zubrin attempts to educate us of the circumstances behind Arnold’s actions in his latest book Benedict Arnold: A Drama of the American Revolution in Five Acts. Although it is intended to be performed on stage, the published form is also compelling because we see Arnold’s descent from respected general to desperate pauper play out before our eyes. And the truth is sadder than the history books lead us to believe the story is. One of the many bright spots of the book is Zubrin’s attention to historical detail. Although this section doesn’t come until the end of the book, he provides the reader with notes on the facts and songs used in the play. This provides a mini history lesson, which can entice readers to read the play again from the beginning with the new or forgotten knowledge he provides. Also worth noting is how he gives additional information on what happened to the particulars after the end of the play. Zubrin also gives more than one perspective on the figures featured in the play. Of particular interest is Peggy Shippen, Arnold’s wife and one of the people responsible for turning Arnold from hero to traitor. The way Zubrin writes Shippen’s part is nothing short of brilliant. We see the many facets of her character, from scheming conspirator one minute to flirtatious vixen the next. But all are woven together to create a wonderful whole. Zubrin’s characterization of Arnold is also worthy of note because it, too, is extremely well-written. Even though we know the outcome, there are more than a few scenes where the audience will feel compelled to shout “No!” to get him to reconsider. The ability to make the audience react even though the end result is well known is one of the strengths Zubrin brings to this project. In an interesting juxtaposition, many of the figures we know from the Revolutionary War are secondary characters in the book. For this, Zubrin relies on what we know from history to fill in the blanks, thus saving time as far as character development is concerned. It works well in this case because the play and book would be weakened considerably by going into greater detail on well-known people while taking focus away from the protagonist. This technique was also used with Peggy’s co-conspirator, Major John Andre, although his name isn’t as well-known as others. Yet in the brief scenes with him, we get a sense of who he is, thus removing the need for further explanation. Zubrin’s characterizations and attention to the characters’ importance to the overall story makes this possible. The only fault with Zubrin’s play is with the overuse of asides. At least a quarter to a third of the dialogue is done through the use of asides. Although this gives us a better insight into what the characters are really thinking, it gets distracting after a time. It could also prove to be difficult to perform, depending on the acoustics and blocking at any venue where this play would be performed. Although we may think we know the story of Benedict Arnold, Robert Zubrin’s play and book Benedict Arnold: A Drama of the American Revolution in Five Acts gives us the chance to revisit what we know and encounter what we didn’t know. Through great character development, an impeccable attention to detail, and deft storytelling, Zubrin makes the story behind the history lesson come alive. Although Arnold’s name will be held in infamy throughout our nation’s history and figure, the book and play gives us pause to reflect on not just the what he did, but the why he did it. And that will go a long way towards taking some of the tarnish off his name. Benedict Arnold: A Drama of the American Revolution in Five Acts is available for purchase for $9.95 as of June 1, 2005. ISBN 0-9741443-1-2 For permission to reprint this article, please contact us at editor@commonconservative.com |