Summary of Stephen Brumwell's Turncoat

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Benedict Arnold’s ancestors had been prominent in the early days of New England. His father, for example, had been a governor of Rhode Island. His family had connections with the Caribbean, exporting barrel staves, timber, and pork in exchange for their slave-produced staples of molasses and rum. #2 Benedict Arnold’s early life is undocumented, but enough information exists to identify the formative experiences that shaped his character. He was a fearless and determined boy who loved to prank others and the local wildlife. #3 When Benedict Arnold signed his articles of indenture in 1755, Britain and her North American colonies were engaged in a long-running conflict with France. Francophobia was widespread in the Anglo-American colonies, and Arnold grew up in an environment where Frenchmen were the enemy. #4 The Lathrop brothers allowed Benedict Arnold to complete his apprenticeship, and they began to employ him to represent their business interests on trading trips. They would not have entrusted their hard-earned professional reputation to an irresponsible runaway.