A Conversation with Michael Kranish

History has its winners, and we all know their names: Alexander the Great. Henry the Fifth. General Eisenhower. For hundreds of years, history books, schoolrooms, and popular media emphasized the winners, celebrating their names in stories, song, documentaries, and more.

However, over the past few decades writers have begun to investigate history's losers, and these stories can be fascinating. If Michael Kranish hadn't written "Flight from Monticello: Jefferson at War," I doubt I would ever have known that Benedict Arnold conducted at least one large-scale naval and military invasion of Virginia -- or that Thomas Jefferson, revered as one of our Founding Fathers, was vilified during that invasion for fleeing his post as Governor of Virginia.

Jefferson doesn't come out the loser in the end -- but that's not due to Arnold's lack of trying! Kranish's book illuminates one of those historical turning points that winds up changing how history books are written. Enjoy this interview with the knowledgeable author of "Flight from Monticello!"