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Secondary sourceBook1903

The Real Benedict Arnold

Charles Burr Todd · 1903

A 1903 biography by Charles Burr Todd that aims to present a fuller, more balanced picture of Arnold's life and career.

This biography reexamines Arnold's full career, attempting a fairer account of his life than his reputation as a traitor usually allows.

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The Real Benedict ArnoldPDF · 282 pages
Charles Burr Todd, The Real Benedict Arnold, 1903.

About this source

What it is

This is a biography of Benedict Arnold written by Charles Burr Todd and published in 1903. The author states his intent, quoting mottoes about telling 'the whole truth' without exaggeration or malice.

Why it matters

Written more than a century after Arnold's death, this book reflects later efforts by historians to reassess Arnold's career beyond his reputation as a traitor. It shows how historical figures can be reexamined over time, and how biographers try to balance known facts with fairness to their subject.

Look closer

  • Why might a biographer feel the need to promise 'the whole truth, and nothing but the truth' about someone like Arnold?
  • What does the title 'The Real Benedict Arnold' suggest about how the author thought Arnold had been portrayed before?
  • How can you tell the difference between facts and the author's opinion while reading a biography like this?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Benedict Arnold on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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