Rabble in Arms

Rabble in Arms was hailed by one critic as "the greatest historical novel written about America" upon its publication in 1933. Beginning in 1776, the novel follows the fortunes of Peter and Nathaniel Merrill as they are drawn inexorably into the bitter northern battles of the American Revolution.

Along with Steven Nason, Cap Huff, and other major characters from Arundel, the Merrill brothers are part of the ill-equipped, almost hopelessly outnumbered Continental Army, which by 1777 faces a two-pronged British invasion from Canada and New York. In an impossibly short time, the Americans must build a fleet of ships to control Lake Champlain.Thanks in large part to the leadership of General Benedict Arnold (at that time the most brilliant and trusted of George Washington’s officers), the Americans overcome heartbreaking odds to bring about the decisive defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga.

Against this turbulent background Roberts also unfolds the personal, human stories of men and women caught up in the unpredictable fortunes of war. Love, treachery, ambition, and idealism motivate an unforgettable cast of characters in a magnificent novel renowned not only for the beauty and horror of its story but also for its unsurpassed historical accuracy. It is a wonderful depiction of the rough-and-tumble, passionate fight for a new nation.

Reviews
"A fine, murmurous forest of a book." --The New Yorker