In the Wake of America's Hannibal: Tracing Benedict Arnold and the 1775 Expedition to Quebec by Canoe

In 1775, Benedict Arnold and an army of 1100 set off into the Maine wilderness. Enduring floods, frostbite, desertion and starvation, they traversed over 300 miles of untraveled wilderness. While ultimately unsuccessful in their attack on Quebec City, Arnold and his men were lauded as “indefatigable” and “famine-proof” for their courageous feat. In 2013, author Sam Brakeley sets out to re-create their journey. While easily evading starvation and hypothermia , he discovers that the 21st century nevertheless brings its own set of challenges. Complete with aggressive land-owners, lascivious women and massive oil spills, we find that life on the river is always exhilarating. Combining 18th and 21st century adventures, Sam Brakeley vividly recreates Arnold’s expedition to Quebec while telling his own modern-day saga. With humor, warmth and compassion, he reminds us that by connecting with the past we can more fully experience the present.