Written by: Keith Thompson
This book combines the irreverent humor of George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman series, the rollicking adventure of Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series, and a unique historic perspective reminiscent of Gore Vidal’s BURR. Thompson pretends he has found the “secret” memoirs of true-life scoundrel James Wilkinson—a charming but devious 18th Century con-artist who eventually rose to become the Commanding General of the U.S. Army from 1797 to 1812. During this time he conspired with Aaron Burr to found an independent nation and tear the United States apart, lost Canada in the War of 1812, and was secretly a traitor in the pay of Spain as they desperately tried to block American expansion into the west.
Thompson’s trick is to take this real-life villain and have as much fun with him as possible. Wilkinson is so completely dishonorable, so unabashedly proud of his villainy, so amusing in his cynicism, that he manages to be both despicable and likeable at the same time. This first book of the series recounts his earlier misadventures in the Revolutionary War where he gets involved with George Washington, Benedict Arnold, British spies, and all sorts of beautiful (and occasionally treacherous) women. The most fun read I’ve had in a long time—and the history is spot-on as well.
(You can read the first 25 pages at the book's website: www.scoundrel1776.com)
