ABOUT THE BOOK
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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| Author ~ Allison Pataki |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allison Pataki is the author of the New York
Times bestselling historical novel, The Traitor’s Wife. Allison and the book have been featured on The TODAY Show, Fox & Friends, Morning Joe, and elsewhere. The daughter of former New York State Governor George E. Pataki, Allison was inspired to write The Traitor’s Wife based on the rich Revolutionary War history of her hometown in New York State’s Hudson Highlands.
Allison graduated Cum Laude from Yale University with a major in English and spent
several years writing for TV and online news outlets. Allison is currently working on her
second novel, The Accidental Empress, a historical novel inspired by
the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, to be published in February 2015.
Allison is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and FoxNews.com,
as well as a member of The Historical Novel Society. Allison lives in Chicago
with her husband. To learn more and connect with Allison visit: www.AllisonPataki.com
A riveting historical novel about Peggy
Shippen Arnold, the cunning wife of Benedict
Arnold and mastermind behind America’s most
infamous act of treason...
"One of the BEST best historical novels...I was riveted. I couldn't put it down." Kathie Lee Gifford, The TODAY Show
"A most promising debut novel." Philippa Gregory, #1 NY Times Bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl
“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)
Questions and Answers with Author Allison Pataki
1. What gave you the inspiration to
write this book?
A couple of years ago I was walking the dogs with my mother in
upstate New York, right across the river from West Point. We paused to read a
historical marker, which described “Arnold’s Flight,” the walking trail we
hiked. The marker described the three main characters of Benedict Arnold’s
conspiracy to sell West Point.
I knew Benedict Arnold, the notorious American turncoat. I knew John
Andre, the British spy with whom Arnold had conspired.
What I had not known,
however, was whose face belonged to the portrait of the beautiful young woman
beside Benedict Arnold. Her name
was Peggy Shippen Arnold. I read how Peggy was courted first by John Andre before
she married the colonial hero, Benedict Arnold. She was a loyalist to the
British cause. As such, she was the central figure in orchestrating her
husband’s treason. Reading this, I thought to myself: how did I not know this? It was pretty juicy stuff!
As I continued my walk, I could not stop thinking about Peggy
Shippen Arnold, and I could not wait to learn more about the role she had
played in this well known treason. Once I began the research, and continued to
uncover the salacious details of the whole plot, the idea for the novel took
off.
2.
Who is your favorite character in the
book?
It is tough to pick one!
Peggy was definitely a really fun
character to write. She is so beguiling and charming and moody and deceptive. I
hope the reader will be simultaneously seduced by and then disgusted with her.
Cal was another fun character to write.
He, like Clara, has a guilelessness about him. An optimist, Cal believes in the
cause of American freedom, even if he is a bit naïve at times.
3. Which came first, the title or the
novel?
The novel,
absolutely. I knew that the plot would revolve around Peggy Shippen Arnold from
the first day.
Everyone
knows Benedict Arnold’s name, and to call someone a “Benedict Arnold” is to
call someone a traitor. I wanted this to be about the woman who stood by his
side when he became a traitor. By his side, or, you might even say, out front!
4. What scene in the book do you feel is most successful and why?
Probably the opening scene, when George Washington’s rider
approaches the Arnold house. Washington is on his way! Further down the Hudson
River, the treason is being uncovered, and yet, Peggy and Benedict Arnold are
convinced that they have succeeded in their plot.
That is, until the second rider approaches. From this messenger, the
Arnolds learn that their plan has been unearthed. And yet, Washington is still
on his way! Chaos ensues.
I like that the novel begins with immediate tension and disaster.
The rest of the novel then goes back and works up until this very moment, this
fateful and disastrous morning.
5.
Thinking way back to the beginning,
what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
How much more goes into publishing a book
than just having an idea and writing it down.
You start with the idea and the research.
Then there is the writing of the book, yes. But then there are the edits, and
the rewrites, and more edits and more rewrites. Then there is the process of
selling the book to a publisher. After all, a manuscript does not become a book
until someone in a position of power says so.
Then there are many more edits and
rewrites…
After all of that, you have to package
and brand this emerging book. You develop the related content, and the book
cover design, and you create a platform to try to position this book in the market
and to reach readers.
It’s been a wild and fun process, and it
has made me so appreciative of all of the people who have helped me and guided
me along the way.
6. What do you like most about the cover
of the book?
I love everything about the cover of
book! I love Peggy’s dress. I love that she holds a cryptic letter behind her
back. I love that her expression is cloudy and she is sort of difficult to see.
I love the tattered colonial flag waving in the background.
Probably my favorite detail, however, is
the Hudson River backdrop. That’s the view I call home! You can see the hint of
where West Point stands on the distant hill. That fort was the crowned jewel
around which all of the treason and betrayal and drama in The Traitor’s Wife swirled!
7.
What’s up next for you?
More historical fiction! I thought, while writing The Traitor’s Wife, that I would never enjoy
writing another book this much, ever again. But I was surprised. I found
another topic that, to me, is equally fascinating and fun, and that is the inspiration for my next book, The Accidental Empress. It's the story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the last great Habsburg queen, and it will be published this February 2015!
Like The Traitor’s Wife, it
is the story of a captivating woman who had a front-row seat to the events of
her time. Though Elisabeth's ('Sisi' was her nickname) time period is well known, her life and her role in
history have been largely forgotten.
To find out more about Allison's book and her upcoming stories go to: www.AllisonPataki.com
Included with a copy of The Traitor's Wife is a red-white-and-blue themed Fourth of July gift basket giveaway worth over 100.00 which includes a 15" American Maid Peggy Shippen doll in a blue gown (similar to one pictured below), a "fire-cracker" red iridescent bracelet, a blue silk fan, "antique" water color rose print suitable for framing (Wild Rose ~ Pierre Joseph Redoute), and 25.00 Amazon gift card.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS with your comment so a winner can be notified.
... and THANK YOU ALLISON for graciously giving of your time to be on Hope Inspired Stories!
Blessings to all-- and enjoy your Fourth!
