Non-Fiction Book Reviews
Book Review: Robert E. Lee
By Sandy Amazeen Dec 30, 2007, 21:01 GMT
While Reid, a British historian and professor of American history obviously appreciates Lee’s leadership abilities, he does an admirable job of separating the mythical celebrity history made of the General from reality. As the underdog, Lee became an iconic figure the south could take pride in and rally behind but such hero worship frequently results in obscuring the facts. Beginning with a brief look at how the “Lost Cause” school of thought, heavily influenced by the writings of General Early, started distorting and omitting prudent facts, Reid examines Lee’s pre-Civil War experience including his time spent in Mexico before becoming commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. A balanced view of Lee’s leadership abilities and flaws throughout the major campaigns are clearly presented with enough detail to be interesting without overwhelming the reader. Inserted in the front of the book are six maps including the Virginia Theatre, Gettysburg and Appomattox to assist with following the campaign explanations. As there are already plenty of books available covering Lee’s leadership, it would have been nice to see more information about the inner man but overall, this is an excellent study.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Non-Fiction Book
- 1. Book Review: The Last Myth
- 2. Book Review: Meals in Minutes
- 3. Book Review: Ars Sacra
- 4. Book Review: Gooseberry Patch Simple Shortcut Recipes
- 5. Book Review: Food and the City
Older Talkback
