A new biography of John Andre, head of British secret services in the Revolutionary War, who was captured in 1780 and
hanged as a spy.
John Andre was head of the British Army's Secret Service in North America as the Revolutionary War entered its most bitter and, ultimately, decisive phase. In 1780, he masterminded the defection of a high-ranking American officer - General Benedict Arnold. Arnold - his name for ever synonymous with treason in American folklore - had recently been appointed commander of West Point and agreed, through Andre, to turn over to the British this strategically vital fort on the upper reaches of the Hudson River. Control of the fort would interrupt lines of communication between New England and the southern colonies, seriously impeding military operations against the British. The plan was also to simultaneously kidnap General George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. By these two masterstrokes, the British believed they could end rebel resistance.
While biographers agree on the facts of this tragic episode, they disagree on Andre's motives and why he chose to sacrifice himself. This new biography of Andre puts forward a new answer to this mystery - not only why he acted as he did, but how he wished others to see his actions.
15 colour and 15 b/w illustrations
About the Author
Dr D. A. B. Ronald has published several books, Young Nelsons: Boy Soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars (2009), and Youth, Heroism and War Propaganda: Britain and the Young Maritime Hero 1754–1820 (2015). Prior to becoming an academic and full-time writer, he ran his own company as an investment banker in the City of London. His acknowledged academic expertise in the realm of the 'young hero' makes him uniquely qualified to write this long overdue new biography.
Industry Reviews
"...Ronald does a tremendous job in portraying not only how Andre was treated as a prisoner of war but also how Patriot civilians dealt with the unexpected influx of British prisoners."-- "Journal of the American Revolution"
"A valuable picture of a fine young officer, with some interesting insights into the events and a look at English and American military, social, and cultural life in the period."-- "StrategyPage"
"Copiously documented and rich with contemporary quotes, The Life of John Andre reads like a tense spy novel as Andre, turncoat Benedict Arnold, and Arnold's alluring young wife plot through multiple machinations and betrayals to strike 'a blow of importance' that will undo America's revolution. Along the way, Ronald illuminates a role for Andre in British colonial strategy far greater than generally appreciated by even the most ardent of Revolutionary War aficionados."--Walter R. Borneman, author of American Spring: Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution
"Ronald proves an exceptional biographer and has unquestionably drafted the definitive account of Andre's life, leaving the reader eager and hopeful for future works."-- "The Colonial Review"
"The unfortunate Major Andre's life was short, and I had thought that every aspect of it had been discussed many times before. However Dr Ronald's research has been painstaking and meticulous, and he has uncovered crucial new information regarding influences on Andre's life; the misfortunes of his father; the patronage of Colonel Prescott early in his military career, and his time in Germany. Though there will always be controversy on how much Benedict Arnold engineered events at Stony Point and subsequent occurrences, this book must surely be the definitive account of Andre's life. His name will ever be linked with that of Arnold in a juxtaposition of Honour and Ignominy."-- "Major J. E. A. Andre"
"This is a nicely balanced work that takes time to assess what in Andre's psychology and background led him to make the choices he did. The biography is well researched, and it's clear Ronald is passionate about his subject."--Nicki J. Markus
"Dr. D. A. B. Ronald has done an admirable job of constructing a biography of John Andre ... one fascinating aspect of Ronald's text is that it is written from the British perspective, rarely the case in literature about the American Revolutionary War."-- "New York Journal of Books" (1/1/2019 12:00:00 AM)
"Ronald offers a detailed look at the British officer best known for having persuaded Benedict Arnold to betray the American Revolution."-- "Publishers Weekly" (1/1/2019 12:00:00 AM)
