The Lee Girls

by Mary P. Coulling

The Lee Girls chronicles the lives of Robert E. Lee's four daughters from 1834 to the death of the last surviving daughter in 1918. Using diaries and letters, Coulling follows the women from their idyllic childhood at their ancestral Arlington home through the hardships of war and the turmoil after the war.

Genres: Civil War, Biography, History, Nonfiction, American History

242 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1987

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book in the late 1990s when we toured Arlington House and Arlington Cemetery on our long trip through and around Virginia. Shirley Plantation, which we also visited (near the James River) is frequently mentioned also. It took Covid for me to finally read this. Growing up in a southern heritage family, Robert E. Lee was considered a hero. Times have changed and some now call him a traitor. This book is heavily researched and teaches us about him, his wife, and their children, as well as her very close family ties to Martha Washington. Although they were a privileged family, they endured a lot of heartache as did most families of that era.

[Danoota]

Her treatment of the issue of enslavement is to brush it off like dust bunnies. The index refers you to the listing of "Slaves", even if the whole name of the enslaved person is known, not even enough respect to note them by their name in the alphabetical listing itself. Light reading for the fans of Scarlett O'Hara, but hardly in depth historical research.

[Elaine Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a reality glimpse of a southern leader and the women who surrounded him.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book four stars for the subject matter. It was so interesting to read about the lives of the daughters of Robert E. Lee, young ladies growing up in the Civil War Era. It also shed light on the parents of these girls and the marvelous job they did in raising their children. Robert was an excellent father, tender, devoted, fun, yet stern and one who encouraged discipline and hard work. Mary Lee was an amazing lady of faith; I was especially amazed by her calmness and trust in God during the siege of Richmond and beyond.

Although filled with many person and charming details of the Lee home life, this book is not particularly well written. The author did her research and obviously has a great love and admiration for the Lees, but she did not quite make an effort to present the story in a palatable way. This book could have been absolutely amazing if left in the hands of a skilled writer.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to more about the home life of wives and daughters of the men who fought the Civil War.

[Carola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waited too long after finishing this to write my notes, so they won't be full of details. This book is a good window into the family life of the Lee girls. The excerpts of letters they exchanged with their father gave me a whole new perspective of him. Despite a bounty of detailed facts, it is hard to get a sense of the different girls' personalities, but the facts are woven into enough of a narrative that it didn't suffer being too dry.

[Katya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction book that reads like a novel. It tells the history of Robert E. Lee's family, and their experiences before, during and after the Civil War. It is a fascinating read, and hard to put down.

[Lettie Laferriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written history by Mary Coulling tells the story of Robert E. Lee's five daughters. Highly recommended even if you're not a Civil War buff.

[Roger Quesnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Coulling is a marvelous writer. The fascinating story of Robert E. Lee's daughters, none of whom ever married. Highly recommend.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the book was okay, if a little slow. I found the second half, after the Civil War started, to be much more interesting.

[Heather Ledet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journal entries, diaries and letters provide an inside glimpse of the Lee family during the Civil War.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One the best reads of the life of General Robert E. Lee's family. It gives you a different perspective of the Civil War and what his family endured.

[Kathy Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the lives of General Lee's daughters, liberally drawn from their rmaining letters.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's obvious there was a lot of research behind this book. It's not a fast read, and there are lots of names to keep straight, but it was interesting.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, despite the myriad of names. I knew nothing about Robert E. Lee (other than the basic historical facts) and this was a nice way to view how that family lived their lives.