Robert E. Lee: Virginian Soldier, American Citizen

by James I. Robertson Jr.

To some, Robert E. Lee is a beloved general, held in the highest regard. To others, he is one of history's most paradoxical heroes. He fought passionately to defend his homeland and was one of the nation's greatest soldiers, yet his name is often inextricably linked with slavery and secession.
In 1861 Lee was Lincoln's first choice to lead the Union troops in the Civil War. But a strong loyalty to Virginia held Lee back. Instead he chose to become the commanding officer of the Confederacy. Lee had great success in battle by spitting his forces and unleashing suprise attacks. His victory at Chancellorville, where his troops soundly defeated an enemy twice their size, remains the most astonishing.
However, only when he surrendered in 1865 did the nation understand the kind of man Robert E. Lee truly was. He was kind and loving, giving all of himself to a reconciliation between the North and the South. In this meticulously researched biography, James I. Robertson explores the life of one of the most revered -- and misunderstood -- Civil War Generals.

Genres: Biography

176 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

James I. Robertson Jr. is an Alumni Distinguished Professor of History at Virginia Tech. He published the definitive adult biography of Stonewall Jackson, Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend, and also wrote Standing Like a Stone Wall for young adults. He lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

From before the start this volume had a strike against it - I did not see until after purchase that it was rated at the 7th-12th grade level. The title itself seemed to misrepresent the man - how is one an American citizen when one's concept of self derives from one's association to one's state?
Then one myth after another filtered to the top - prefered to never used the word enemy to describe US forces (take a peek in any OR and see this dog don't hunt); was friendly to the Custis slaves; and so on and so forth. In fact, having just finished a balanced account of Lee by Emory Thomas, I was at a loss to recognize the being described in this book. And this done by such an imminent scholar.SMH.

If you want to be that starred-crossed teenager who wants his Lee beyond the mortal mantle this is your starting point. Lee himself gave the appropriate reaction to this Atheneum Press release - 'Too Bad, Too Bad, oh Too Bad."

[Kyle Joseph]

This book was a very great book. I loved how it informed me so much about the civil war. One of the best parts of this book is it didn't just tell me Roberts success on the battlefield but also the success off of the field. Robert E. Lee was a very religious man. Even though he may have been made fun of for taking defense but Robert E. Lees earthworks and defenses were one of the best that the U.S. had seen in all time.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally read non-fiction biographies, but after visiting Lexington, Virginia this month and visiting Lee's Chapel on the campus of Washington and Lee University, I wanted to learn more about Robert E. Lee. He was an extraordinary man and I thoroughly enjoyed Robertson's biography of him. It was written, I believe, more for high school level readers, so it gave me just enough information without being overly detailed. I'm glad I read this.

[Elaine]

Only got to page 17 of this book, so I'm not sure if it even qualifies as "read". Could have been good, I don't know.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book. I learned a lot about Robert E. Lee, which makes me happy. I already knew a decent amount about the Civil War.

[Braeden Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a story about Robert E. Lee’s life that focuses mostly on his military career and moral stature. It talks about the importance of Lee’s faith and the importance of religion to soldiers in the Civil War. It includes information on Lee’s West-Point career and war leadership. The most interesting part of this biography was the relation to morality and how Robert E. Lee. As one of the most controversial figures in the history United States, this book dives into the aspect of religion and moral stature for people during the Civil War. I think it is extremely interesting to look into these controversial subjects and see how people think and perceives the times around them. I liked looking into the photos and seeing depictions of what Robert E. Lee’s life was truly like. I enjoyed the fact that it focused on his military career and moral views. It was a very insightful read and a well-written book. I recommend this book to any of you history buffs!