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Scoundrel
In the humorous, iconoclastic tradition of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman novels, Gore Vidal’s Burr, and Thomas Berger’s Little Big Man, meet real-life scoundrel James Wilkinson as he lies, schemes, back-stabs, and seduces his way through our nation’s early history. In Scoundrel! historian and novelist Keith Thompson mixes fact and fiction with intense characterization and a riveting story. After experiencing Wilkinson’s irreverent spin, you’ll never view the American Revolution or the Founding Fathers the same way again.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2012
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110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 29, 2016
I'm a big fan of the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser. This book is being touted as "an American Flashman". I went to the book website www.SCOUNDREL1776.com where they let you read the first chapter. The first chapter impressed me enough to buy the book and it was a great read! Not as good as Flashman perhaps, but certainly the best book I've read this year--funny, exciting, and informative as well. An interesting twist: James Wilkinson, the "scoundrel" of the story, really lived, and from what I read on Wikipedia, was every bit as rotton as Thompson says.
[UPDATE: I somehow got talking about the American Revolution with a friend the other night and afterwards went to re-check a couple things Thompson said in this book. I intended only to read a few paragraphs, but ended up getting hooked and re-reading the whole thing again. I'D FORGOTTEN JUST HOW GOOD THIS BOOK WAS. Can't wait for Volume 2!
(From Amazon: In the humorous, iconoclastic tradition of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman novels, Gore Vidal’s BURR, and Thomas Berger’s LITTLE BIG MAN, meet real-life scoundrel James Wilkinson as he lies, schemes, back-stabs, and seduces his way through our nation’s early history. After experiencing Wilkinson’s irreverent spin, you’ll never view the American Revolution or the Founding Fathers the same way again.
Cleverly weaving historical fact, fiction, and humor, SCOUNDREL! recounts Wilkinson’s misadventures during the momentous year of 1776, starting at the siege of Boston, following him through Benedict Arnold’s disastrous Canadian invasion, and ending with Washington’s attack on Trenton. Along the way he battles savage Indians, seduces beautiful women, fawns over egomaniacal generals, falls in with British spies, and betrays everyone who strays into his path.)
[UPDATE: I somehow got talking about the American Revolution with a friend the other night and afterwards went to re-check a couple things Thompson said in this book. I intended only to read a few paragraphs, but ended up getting hooked and re-reading the whole thing again. I'D FORGOTTEN JUST HOW GOOD THIS BOOK WAS. Can't wait for Volume 2!
(From Amazon: In the humorous, iconoclastic tradition of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman novels, Gore Vidal’s BURR, and Thomas Berger’s LITTLE BIG MAN, meet real-life scoundrel James Wilkinson as he lies, schemes, back-stabs, and seduces his way through our nation’s early history. After experiencing Wilkinson’s irreverent spin, you’ll never view the American Revolution or the Founding Fathers the same way again.
Cleverly weaving historical fact, fiction, and humor, SCOUNDREL! recounts Wilkinson’s misadventures during the momentous year of 1776, starting at the siege of Boston, following him through Benedict Arnold’s disastrous Canadian invasion, and ending with Washington’s attack on Trenton. Along the way he battles savage Indians, seduces beautiful women, fawns over egomaniacal generals, falls in with British spies, and betrays everyone who strays into his path.)
August 29, 2013
I use this site to keep track of the books I've already read and to find other great books to feed my book addiction. I don't write reviews because the folks here do such a good job and I mainly just want to get on to my next book. But I had to write a review about Scoundrel! Well maybe not a review (those mentioned folks having covered plot synopsis) but a recommendation.
This is a great, not good but great, book. It's got everything I look for in a book. Interesting characters, swashing of buckles, skullduggery, historical footnotes, humor,etc. Fans of Flashman will definitely find plenty to like, but Wilkinson is his own character. The scoundrel's story, the footnotes, the brushes with history. They're all there, but this is not a retread of Flashman. There are similarities, yes, but Wilkinson is his own character and kudos to Thompson for making it so. This is a book for fans of Fraser and Dumas. I will definitely read the next one and I hope Thompson writes many more.
This is a great, not good but great, book. It's got everything I look for in a book. Interesting characters, swashing of buckles, skullduggery, historical footnotes, humor,etc. Fans of Flashman will definitely find plenty to like, but Wilkinson is his own character. The scoundrel's story, the footnotes, the brushes with history. They're all there, but this is not a retread of Flashman. There are similarities, yes, but Wilkinson is his own character and kudos to Thompson for making it so. This is a book for fans of Fraser and Dumas. I will definitely read the next one and I hope Thompson writes many more.
September 24, 2012
“Scoundrel” is the American Revolution through the eyes of the most amoral, self serving, duplicitous, lying, cheating, thieving, ass licking miscreant in American History. General James Wilkinson narrates the war from an insider’s candid perspective. He reveals every wart, defect and wild hair residing on the lily white hides of our Revolutionary heroes, including his own. The story is clever, irreverent, humorous and convincing as it follows the career of a relatively obscure player in the revolutionary drama. You will find “Scoundrel” in the vein of Rousseau’s “Confessions” and Casanova’s autobiography but infinitely more readable. I might go so far as to call it the “Catch 22” of the revolutionary period. It’s a great piece of historical fiction that, were Stanley Kubrick still alive, would look great on the screen. I got a surprise at the end when I read Keith Thompson's bio and realized that he probably based his Wilkinson character on himself.
January 18, 2016
Ever since George Macdonald Fraser died, I have been looking for a replacement for Flashman. This book isn't the same as the Flashman books, but it comes close...and unlike Flashman, General James Wilkinson really lived, and was just about as rotten as portrayed here!
I first heard of Wilkinson in Gore Vidal's Burr, where he played an important role in Burr's fall from grace. Unlike Flashman, quite a few of Wilkinson's contemporaries were on to him; he was described as "from the bark to the core, a villain," and in other unflattering ways. From the start of his career in the American Revolution to his final dismissal, he found more ways to be a bad egg than most of us could ever think of.
I do hope that the author is going to continue with this. I'd love to see his take on the latter half of the Revolution, and the post-Revolutionary period where Wilkinson was both the main general of our army and a paid agent of the King of Spain.
I first heard of Wilkinson in Gore Vidal's Burr, where he played an important role in Burr's fall from grace. Unlike Flashman, quite a few of Wilkinson's contemporaries were on to him; he was described as "from the bark to the core, a villain," and in other unflattering ways. From the start of his career in the American Revolution to his final dismissal, he found more ways to be a bad egg than most of us could ever think of.
I do hope that the author is going to continue with this. I'd love to see his take on the latter half of the Revolution, and the post-Revolutionary period where Wilkinson was both the main general of our army and a paid agent of the King of Spain.
February 15, 2013
This book truly was amazing. Funny, exciting, sexy, and it gives a great perspective on the history of the American Revolution as it really was--not as it was taught in school. If you like history books like "Lies My Teacher told Me", you'll love this. About as entertaining a book as I've ever read. I normally don't bother to review books, but I thought I would this one because it's relatively unknown. I came across it by the sheerest luck, went to the website where you can read the first chapter, and bought it hoping that the rest of the book would be of the same quality. It surpassed all my expectations. Give it a look. You'll be glad you did!
March 2, 2017
Absolutely a wonderful read and despite considering myself a solidly aware casual history buff on the American Revolution I was amazed how I was unaware of this particular cad. I will, without reservation, purchase any sequels!
April 7, 2013
Like the Flashman books, this is a historical romp.
April 15, 2019
This is a tongue-in-cheek memoir of General James Wilkinson. The author, Keith Thompson, tells a fascinating story with lots of humor. The reader won't look at the Revolutionary generals is the same way again.
James Wilkinson works his way through the beginning of the Revolutionary War (1775-1776) by lying, scheming, seducing. He does just about anything to avoid work and danger. He's always on the prowl for a better situation (requiring less work).
The author uses the style of the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser. Flashman's author placed his fictional character in real events, allowing the character to evade trouble through humorous means. Wilkinson is a scoundrel and he knows it. He will stab one leader in the back to get another post with a 'safer' general.
Throughout the novel, I knew that Thompson was telling the true version of our early history, including all the missteps and errors and accidental victories. He offered a fascinating look at Benedict Arnold before he went off the rails. This is a fresh and fun look at our colonial history, warts and all. 4.5 stars
James Wilkinson works his way through the beginning of the Revolutionary War (1775-1776) by lying, scheming, seducing. He does just about anything to avoid work and danger. He's always on the prowl for a better situation (requiring less work).
The author uses the style of the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser. Flashman's author placed his fictional character in real events, allowing the character to evade trouble through humorous means. Wilkinson is a scoundrel and he knows it. He will stab one leader in the back to get another post with a 'safer' general.
Throughout the novel, I knew that Thompson was telling the true version of our early history, including all the missteps and errors and accidental victories. He offered a fascinating look at Benedict Arnold before he went off the rails. This is a fresh and fun look at our colonial history, warts and all. 4.5 stars
September 9, 2016
I had heard of James Wilkinson before mainly through having read Gore Vidal's wonderful novel, Burr. In there, I read that Wilkinson, a general in the United States army from Revolutionary times, was one of the greatest scalawags and no-goods in our nation's early history. An intriguer, a soldier who "never won a battle or lost a court-martial," and a conscienceless betrayer, he was about as nasty as Flashman is supposed to be...but, unlike Flashy, Wilkinson's contemporaries eventually caught on to him. He was described as "from the bark to the core, a villain," and one man openly pitied Wilkinson's sword---"that, at least, is made of honest steel!"
This book purports to be Wilkinson's memoirs in his old age, of the start of his career of double-dealing in the early years of the American Revolution. He wheedles and wheels-and-deals his way up to the top of the Continental Army, making sure to give some of his more talented rivals a good kick down the stairs at the same time. And, of course, he has time for the ladies, including pulling at least one stunt that even Flashman would not have done.
The book ends at the Battle of Trenton, and I'd say there's room for a bunch of sequels covering Wilkinson's later years. I'd love to see his take on Aaron Burr and his account of being both the main general of the US Army and a paid agent of the King of Spain, at a time when war between the US and Spain over what became the Louisiana Purchase was a real possibility.
This book purports to be Wilkinson's memoirs in his old age, of the start of his career of double-dealing in the early years of the American Revolution. He wheedles and wheels-and-deals his way up to the top of the Continental Army, making sure to give some of his more talented rivals a good kick down the stairs at the same time. And, of course, he has time for the ladies, including pulling at least one stunt that even Flashman would not have done.
The book ends at the Battle of Trenton, and I'd say there's room for a bunch of sequels covering Wilkinson's later years. I'd love to see his take on Aaron Burr and his account of being both the main general of the US Army and a paid agent of the King of Spain, at a time when war between the US and Spain over what became the Louisiana Purchase was a real possibility.
May 16, 2014
An entertaining read. While the main character's character and the first person narrative are similar to George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman, Flashman is a fictional character, whilst James Wilkinson is a historical figure.
The author weaves the narrative through the first year of the American Revolution, rich in historical detail and characterisation of the key figures of the day. The main character's cynical debunking of some of the Myths of the Revolution is refreshing. Just as every Frenchman was in the Resistance during the Second World War, every American claimed to be a Patriot, once the war was won.
It looks like this is going to be a long series of books as Wilkinson's career was both long and eventful.
An entertaining and rewarding read. A must for any one interested in the American Revolution.
The author weaves the narrative through the first year of the American Revolution, rich in historical detail and characterisation of the key figures of the day. The main character's cynical debunking of some of the Myths of the Revolution is refreshing. Just as every Frenchman was in the Resistance during the Second World War, every American claimed to be a Patriot, once the war was won.
It looks like this is going to be a long series of books as Wilkinson's career was both long and eventful.
An entertaining and rewarding read. A must for any one interested in the American Revolution.
November 14, 2020
I can't decide if I like or hate Wilkinson. Despicable person, but fun reading. I need part 2!
October 5, 2022
excellent work
Fascinating view of early American history. Seems more believable than what we learned in school. Ready to read the next Wilky tale of scandals and scoundrels.
Fascinating view of early American history. Seems more believable than what we learned in school. Ready to read the next Wilky tale of scandals and scoundrels.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews