Robert E. Lee

by Thomas, Emory M. Thomas

Overview

The story in pictures of the life of Robert E. Lee. It is our good fortune that the life of Robert E. Lee, hero of the Confederacy and a giant in American history, coincided with the early years of photography. It is thus possible for Emory M. Thomas, author of the highly acclaimed recent biography of Lee, to assemble a wealth of images that, with engaging and extended captions, give us a picture of the man and his times impossible to render with words alone. Lee as commander of the Southern army is an imposing vision held by most Americans. Far less known are his childhood years; his family and home life; his early career as a civil engineer, redirecting the flow of the Mississippi River in St. Louis; his stint in the Mexican War; and his tenure as superintendent of West Point. After the Civil War Lee had a third career as president of Washington College (which would become Washington and Lee). Here are the people, places, objects, and events that intersected with Lee's life, a full and fascinating pictorial biography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393037302
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	07/01/1995
Pages:	472
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 6.18(h) x 1.50(d)

Editorial Reviews

homas positions this life of the Marble Man as a corrective to critical appraisals such as Alan Nolan's "Lee Reconsidered" (1991). Both authors must contend with Douglas Southall Freeman's enduring "R. E. Lee" (1934), so what a revealing delight are Thomas' newly mined nuggets that humanize the image of the imperturbable, heroic, saintly, and suffering Lee. Thomas extracts them from Lee's preCivil War career, when he was mastering battlements (as an engineer) before mastering battles. Family life predominates, especially the legacy of Lee's famed father, "Light Horse" Harry Lee, Washington's cavalry chief, who landed in debtors prison. Thomas makes the case that that disgrace impelled the son on a lifelong, if subconscious, quest to repair by personal example the family name; hence Lee's legendary devotion to honor, duty, and courtesy. Perhaps his unspoken embarrassment was compounded by dependence on others for a living (his wealthy wife, the militaries, a college). The war narratives are professionally rendered (Thomas is many times an acclaimed Civil War author), but always in focus is the shy, conflict-avoiding Lee personality, excepting conflicts at the Seven Days and elsewhere, of course. Be Lee traitor or patriot, he is a compelling American figure. This fine work is an obligatory acquisition.

Gilbert Taylor

Thomas (history, U. of Georgia) recounts the story of Lee's life, revealing a man who, in spite of his many apparent triumphs including clearing his blighted family name, marrying properly, and commanding an army, was "always wanting something." Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Another biography of Robert E. Lee? Can one tell the story of the “marble man” without idolizing him or trashing him because he fought for the Confederacy? Yes, and what we find is a flesh-and-blood Lee who’s still a man to be admired. The reading by Davidson is clear, evenly paced and unemotional. His deep baritone gives an aura of authority, and he avoids monotony by changing inflection. This recording is an excellent match of reader and text. M.T.F. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine

APR/MAY 97 - AudioFile