179. Connecticut's Benedict Arnold: America's Most Hated Man

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In today's episode, we discuss one of the most well-known sons of Connecticut and one that is one of the most perplexing! My guest is Jack Kelly, historian and author of the new book God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man. Kelly believes a reevaluation of Arnold's career with his string of heroic achievements as well as his betrayal of the American patriot cause is needed. In Connecticut, Benedict pivots from being a greatly admired hero of the Battle of Ridgefield on the American side to being the commander of the British troops that burned New London and massacred American militia men at Fort Griswold. How could this happen?

Jack Kelly is an award-winning historian and novelist. His books about Revolution and early America include Band of Giants and Valcour. Kirkus Reviews described his latest book, God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's most Hated Man as "a dazzling addition to the history of the American Revolution."

Jack has received the DAR History Medal. He is a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow in Nonfiction Literature and has appeared on NPR, C-Span and the History Channel. He lives and works in New York's Hudson Valley.

To find out more, go to his website: https://JackKellyBooks.com

and newsletter: https://jackkellyattalkingtoamerica.substack.com

To find out more about Benedict Arnold, check out these Connecticut Explored stories-

https://www.ctexplored.org/benedict-arnold-and-the-battle-of-ridgefield/

https://www.ctexplored.org/benedict-arnold-turns-and-burns-new-london/

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This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O'Sullivan at https://www.highwattagemedia.com/

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