Mrs. Benedict Arnold
by Emma Parry
Sale date: April 28, 2026
A riveting reimagining of the young woman who almost ended the American Revolution.
Philadelphia in the 1770s. Peggy Shippen longs for the war she’s living through to end. Though not always appreciated at home, she finds her curiosity is welcomed by a lively and influential circle of friends, including a glamorous rising star in the British army, Captain John André.
When the war separates them, Peggy is devastated—both by his absence and the horrors of ongoing conflict—before finding consolation in a man whose heroics for the Patriots have captured the world’s imagination: General Benedict Arnold.
As she trades Loyalist balls for Patriot salons, entertaining the most prominent figures of early America, and navigating the country’s lethal political currents, she conceives of an audacious scheme to achieve peace and her family’s survival, unleashing what would become the most famous act of treason in history.
When violent division and retribution are the only constants, Mrs. Benedict Arnold asks, how far will one woman go to make it all stop?
ISBN: 9781638933793
Language: English
Page count: 320
Edition: Hardcover
Dimensions: 6 x 9
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A fresh, provocative portrait of the young woman who almost ended the American Revolution.
Reviews
In this immersive novel of love, power, and peril – all the way to its heart-stopping conclusion – the formidable Peggy Shippen-Arnold finally gets her due.
Samantha Silva, author of Love and Fury and Mr. Dickens and his Carol
“
Emma Parry brings the American Revolution to life in this keenly-observed, astonishing debut about a brilliant, spirited young woman caught between two great loves and two great nations. Brimming with wit and historic detail, Parry expertly embroiders a tale of courtly romance and political intrigue onto a star-spangled sampler, vividly rendering our founding fathers and mothers, and delivering an irresistible heroine in Peggy. Probing into the true nature of loyalty, patriotism, and love, Mrs. Benedict Arnold is a lush, nuanced exploration of how one woman can tip the scales of history.
Emma Brodie, author of Songs in Ursa Major
“
Parry offers a deeply researched and refreshing take on a seminal moment in American history, told through the eyes of a woman who refuses to be a spectator as the world crumbles around her. Fans of Hamilton will enjoy this propulsive debut that explores not only the toll of war, but also the cost of peace.
Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen
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Emma Parry’s debut novel plunges readers into a Revolutionary War drama ripe with secrets, shifting alliances, and romance. The author deftly gives voice to Peggy Shippen, Benedict Arnold’s wife, as she navigates the tumultuous seas of love, war, and treason. Peggy is a complex, savvy heroine whose fear, determination, and fierce loyalty in the face of mounting dangers also make her utterly relatable. Appearances by colorful characters like Hamilton, Burr, and Washington will be a special treat for Hamilton fans, too. Parry’s novel offers a refreshing perspective on one of the most infamous betrayals in Revolutionary War history, and readers will be thinking about Peggy’s story long after they turn the last page.
Suzanne Nelson, author of The Librarians of Lisbon
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Stay in touch
Emma Parry
I’m a longtime literary agent and newbie novelist. Born in Britain, I have now lived more than half my life in New York.
I divide my time between the house I built with my family in the Hudson Valley and Janklow & Nesbit's offices in New York City (and England, whenever I can).
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If you wish to be in touch with me in my capacity as literary agent, please visit me at Janklow & Nesbit Associates
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Jacket design by Lucy Kim
Jacket art: Portrait of Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier with his wife, 1788 by Jacques Louis David. © Photo Josse/Bridgeman Images; cloth. © naiauss/AdobeStock and Sergey Peterman/AdobeStock
Photograph of author: Joshua Briggs