Description
Get a fresh perspective on the American Revolution as an awardwinning author reveals the true story of two young women who defied their Loyalist families to marry radical patriots Henry Knox and Benedict Arnold Shelf Awareness
When Peggy Shippen the celebrated blonde belle of Philadelphia married American military hero Benedict Arnold in 1779 she anticipated a life of fame and fortune but financial debts and political intrigues prompted her to conspire with her treasonous husband against George Washington and the American Revolution In spite of her commendable efforts to rehabilitate her husbands name Peggy Shippen continues to be remembered as a traitor bride
Peggys patriotic counterpart was Lucy Flucker the spirited and voluptuous brunette who in 1774 defied her wealthy Tory parents by marrying a poor Boston bookbinder simply for love When her husband Henry Knox later became a famous general in the American Revolutionary War Lucy faithfully followed him through Washingtons army camps where she birthed and lost babies befriended Martha Washington was praised for her social skills and secured her legacy as an admired patriot wife
And yet as esteemed biographer Nancy Rubin Stuart reveals a closer look at the lives of both spirited women reveals that neither was simply a traitor or patriot In Defiant Brides the first dual biography of both Peggy Shippen Arnold and Lucy Flucker Knox Stuart has crafted a rich portrait of two rebellious women whodefied expectations and struggledpublicly and privatelyin a volatile political moment in early America
Drawing from neverbeforepublished correspondence Stuart traces the evolution of these women from passionate teenage brides to mature matrons bringing both women from the sidelines of history to its vital center Readers will be enthralled by Stuarts dramatic account of the epic lives of these defiant brides which begin with romance are complicated by politics and involve spies disappointments heroic deeds tragedies and personal triumphs
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