Chautauqua 2013 “American Legends” Suggested Reading
Benedict Arnold (1741-1801)
Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero: An American Warrior Reconsidered by James Kirby Martin
(Paperback - Aug 1, 2000) – Excellent all round read. This book is primarily about Arnold's service on the
American side in the Revolution before his defection, but also gives overview of the period before the
war.
George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots by Dave Richard Palmer
(Paperback - Oct 5, 2010) – Another top read.
* Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor by Willard Sterne Randall (Paperback – 2001) – Very good
general read with excellent section on time as Military Commandant in Philadelphia. This book is a
comprehensive biography, and goes into great detail about Arnold's part in military operations in Quebec,
as well as much of the behind-the-scenes political and military wrangling and infighting that occurred
prior to his defection. It also includes detailed accounts of his negotiations with André and Clinton.
Benedict Arnold's Navy: The Ragtag Fleet That Lost the Battle of Lake Champlain but Won the
American Revolution by James L. Nelson (Hardcover - Apr 21, 2006) – Gripping narrative of an
important campaign that saved the Patriot cause in late ’76.
Benedict Arnold: A Traitor in Our Midst by Barry Wilson (Hardcover - May 2001) – Excellent
perspective from the Canadian point of view, about Arnold's time in Canada both before and after his
defection.
Through a Howling Wilderness: Benedict Arnold's March to Quebec, 1775 by Thomas A. Desjardin
(Paperback - Nov 13, 2007) – Another excellent account of another of Arnold’s little known exploits;
Arnold’s grueling march through Maine to attack the British at Quebec.
Traitors: The Worst Acts of Treason in American History from Benedict Arnold to Robert Hanssen
by Richard T. Sale – Interesting for comparative purposes.
Traitorous Hero: The Life and Fortunes of Benedict Arnold by W. M. Wallace (Hardcover - Jun 1970)
– Generally accurate, somewhat dated.
Connecticut's dark star of the Revolution, General Benedict Arnold (Connecticut bicentennial
series) by Willard Mosher Wallace (Paperback- 978) – Not that different in scope and narrative from his
1970 book.
Benedict Arnold: Misunderstood Hero? by Audrey Wallace (Paperback - Dec 2003) – Goes a little too
far, perhaps, in the exoneration vein, but a good read.
* The Man in the Mirror: A Life of Benedict Arnold by Clare Brandt (Hardcover - Jan 25, 1994) –
Goes too far in the denunciation vein. An interesting read, but I saw the author admit in an interview that
she became biased against Arnold while writing the book.
Other Books/Materials that are helpful:
The Transformation of Virginia, 1740-1790 by Rhys Isaac – The chapters dealing with Virginia during
the war years, particularly 1780-1781, give an excellent social background of the very real disaffection
with the Patriot cause - which Arnold tapped into while raiding and recruiting in Virginia.
Arnold, Benedict (September 25, 1780). "Letter, Benedict Arnold to George Washington pleading for
mercy for his wife". Library of Congress (George Washington Papers). Avery interesting look at Arnold
through his own words.
Virginia State Papers, Vol. 2, 1781 – Contains a letter from Col. Innes of the Williamsburg area militia to
a superior officer describing Arnold’s raids in Virginia and Williamsburg in particular – and Arnold’s
success in recruiting.
David Crockett (1786-1836)
David Crockett in Congress - The Rise and Fall of the Poor Man's Friend by James R. Boyston, and
Allen J. Wiener (2009). A comprehensive look at the collected speeches and letters of Crockett in clear
historical context.
Adventures of Davy Crockett, Told Mostly By Himself by David Crockett (1955). Published at the
height of the Disney inspired Crockett Craze.
* ----- Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee. Facsimile edition.
First major scholarly analysis of Crockett's own autobiography. The 1834 original appeared less than 20
years after Franklin's autobiography and is considered important as both a historic and linguistic work.
Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William
Barnet Travis by William C. Davis (1998). A text that is highly regarded among Alamo enthusiasts.
Davy Crockett - Frontier Legends by Robert Hollmann (2005). A novelization of Crockett's life,
suitable for younger readers.
A Sourcebook of Interdisciplinary Materials in American Drama: J. K. Paulding, "The Lion of the West,”
Vera M Jiji, ed. New York: Multimedia Studies in American Drama, Brooklyn College, 1983. This packet
of theatrical information on the 1831 play by Washington Irving's brother-in-law makes the play that
helped form the Crockett legend accessible to a contemporary audience.
* American Legend - The Real-Life Adventures of David Crockett by Buddy Levy (2005).
Beautifully written look at the man instead of the myth, emphasizing that his humanity made him all the
more a hero.
* Crockett at Two Hundred: New Perspectives on the Man and the Myth. Michael Lofaro and Joe
Cummings, eds. (1989). Offers overview of how the Crocket legend has evolved.
* David Crockett - Lion of the West by Michael Wallis (2011). Focus on Crockett the man with new
insights on his early days in Tennessee.
Herman Melville (1819-1891)
If you have not read anything by Herman Melville, I suggest you begin with his first book, Typee, A Peep
at Polynesian Life (1846). It was the book he was the best known for during his life and it is a fun easy
read.
You can skip his next two books, Omoo and Mardi, also set in the South Seas, but not lively or easy to
read. Pick up Redburn, His First Voyage, about Melville as a sailor on a merchant ship; then read
White-Jacket or the World in a Man-of-War, about Melville’s experiences in the U. S. Navy.
Now you are ready to read Moby-Dick about Melville’s time on a whale ship, or better the great
American novel that Melville wrote after sailing on a whaler AND after he read a great deal about whaling
and let his imagination work both his experience and his reading together into a wonderful story.
Among the many Melville biographies, I recommend Melville, His World and Work by Andrew Delbanco
or Melville, A Biography by Laurie Robertson-Lorant. If neither of these one volume works is enough to
satisfy your Melville appetite, I then recommend Hershel Parker’s definitive two volume study, Herman
Melville, A Biography.
If you liked my “Carl Jung” from last summer’s Chautauqua, you might like Melville’s Moby-Dick, a
Jungian Commentary by Edward Edinger. If you enjoyed my friend Charles Pace’s Chautauqua
portrayal of Frederick Douglass, you might like the serious study: Frederick Douglass & Herman
Melville, Essays in Relation edited by Robert Levine and Samuel Otter.
Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)
Susan B. Anthony: A Biography by Kathleen Barry. This is one of several academic monographs on
the life and times of Susan B. Anthony. It is thorough, scholarly and well-documented.
* Failure is Impossible: Susan B. Anthony in Her Own Words by Lynn Sherr (1995). This is an
indispensable collection of letters, interviews, essays and speeches, organized loosely by topic, with
helpful, accessibly written commentary and contextual notes by the author.
Susan B. Anthony: A Biographical Companion by Judith E. Harper. The alphabetized entries in this
volume expand on the people, events and publications that influenced the life and work of Miss Anthony.
* For younger readers—Susan B. Anthony by Barbara Weisberg (1988). A serviceable, well-written
overview of Miss Anthony’s life and times, suitable for middle and high school readers.
* But, if you have time for only one reference, don’t miss the beautifully filmed and narrated documentary
by Ken Burns and Paul Barnes, Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and
Susan B. Anthony (1999) - available on DVD (2004). Drawing on archival images and writings, this film
explores the dynamic relationship between these two women, and relates in vivid ways the prevailing
sentiments of their time and the obstacles they faced.
Malcolm X (1925-1965)
* Malcolm X: A life of Reinvention by Manning Marable (2011). This is my most recently read book
about Malcolm that I really enjoyed, despite the uproar from some Malcolm loyalists, which I consider
myself to be. I thought this book took you a bit deeper than the autobiography in connecting such things
as the parallels between Malcolm and his father and his involvement in the Universal Negro
Improvement Association that like the early Nation of Islam believed in separation of the races. And to
me the book gives more in depth information about the assassination of Malcolm. In closing I felt the
book took Malcolm down from the cross and made him more normal with flaws, just like anyone else.
* The Autobiography of Malcolm X as Told to Alex Haley (1965) is a must read for anyone trying to
grasp a better understanding of Malcolm X. It takes you trough Malcolm’s various transformations from
Detroit Red to El hajj Malik El Shabazz
To kill a Black Man by Louis Lomax (1968), is a compelling biography that shows the similarities of
Malcolm X and Martin L. King, but the book also demonstrate how the different environments they were
reared in helped to define the very different methods they employed in trying to achieve the same goal of
freedom for the African American community
* Malcolm X Speaks by George Breitman (1990) shares many Malcolm X speeches with the reader
From Civil Rights to Black Liberation, Malcolm X and the OAAU by William W. Sales, Jr (1994) offers a
detailed description and analysis of the organization of Afro-American unity (OAAU), an organization
Malcolm founded after his return from the holy land of Mecca, along with The Muslim mosque
incorporated, which was a non religious organization to bring together non Muslims interested in finding
solutions in the Black man’s struggles. The book gives detailed information from former members of
OAAU, FBI surveillances files, and other published accounts of Malcolm’s changing views, which, he
explains, was not a matter of civil rights but rather human rights.
Malcolm X, The Man and His Times edited by historian John Henry Clarke (1969), is an anthology of
Malcolm X's writings, speeches, and manifestos.