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Lee Paperback – Abridged, August 1, 1997

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 427 ratings
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Douglas Southall Freeman’s Pulitzer Prize–winning biography of Robert E. Lee was greeted with critical acclaim when it was first published in 1935. This reissue chronicles all the major aspects and highlights of the general’s military career, from his stunning accomplishments in the Mexican War to the humbling surrender at Appomattox.

More than just a military leader, Lee embodied all the conflicts of his time. The son of a Revolutionary War hero and related by marriage to George Washington, he was the product of young America’s elite. When Abraham Lincoln offered him command of the United States Army, however, he choose to lead the confederate ranks, convinced that his first loyalty lay with his native Virginia. Although a member of the planter class, he felt that slavery was “a moral and political evil.” Aloof and somber, he nevertheless continually inspired his men by his deep concern for their personal welfare.

Freeman’s biography is the full portrait of a great American—a distinguished, scholarly, yet eminently readable classic that has linked Freeman to Lee as irrevocably as Boswell to Dr. Johnson.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    656 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Scribner
  4. Publication date
    August 1, 1997
  5. Dimensions
    6.13 x 1.6 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0684829533
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0684829531
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Douglas Southall Freeman, the son of a Confederate soldier, was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1886. He was commissioned to write a one-volume biography of Lee in 1915, but his research and writings over two decades produced four large volumes. Freeman won another Pulitzer Prize for his six-volume definitive biography of George Washington. He died in 1953.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Touchstonee ed. edition (August 1, 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 656 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0684829533
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0684829531
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.56 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.6 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 427 ratings

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Douglas Southall Freeman

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
427 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Subhi N. SALOOM
5.0 out of 5 stars Legend forever
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
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One of my best US Generals ..RIP Sir ..you are my example
One person found this helpful
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Textian
5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2023
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For years I have wanted to learn more about R E Lee. This tome is a very good biography and I am certain the multi-volume set from which it springs is even more detailed. The book briefly covers Lee’s pre-war years and then spends the majority of the chapters covering Lee’s role in The War Between the States. It is decidedly written by a Lee fan.
3 people found this helpful
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5/0
4.0 out of 5 stars An Abridgement but Very Good
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2012
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" Lee", an abridgement by Richard Harwell of Douglas Southall's classic four-volume biography.

Robert E. Lee is best known for having been the commanding general of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during most of our Civil War. That sad fact underscores how badly our nation wasted the absolutely incredible talent and character and heart of Robert E. Lee. That fact, in turn, helps illuminate why Lee, after the War, was (and is) one of the very most revered, most admired, best-loved and most studied men in the entire 600 years or so of recorded History of the North American continent.
Lee graduated from West Point as an engineer and Harwell presents the reader with enough of Lee's pre-War career assignments and accomplishments to realize that an upstart new nation perched on the edge of unprecedented expansion and The Industrial Age could have put Lee's talents to infinitely better use in a thousand different ways. To spend that treasure on four years of national self-mutilation was the height of the sinful imbecility and avarice that has so commonly characterized our Federal government.
Perhaps the single most striking trait Lee exhibited during the War was his seemingly uncanny ability to come up with the right answer at (or even before) the right time. Probably thousands of people have expressed wonder at Lee's calmness -even serenity- during battles and campaigns - reverses, disasters, surprises, catastrophes and assorted crazy events notwithstanding. Harwell demonstrates over and over that Lee's "genius" had a lot more to do with the good sense to "do his homework", stay clear-eyed and to then make the right decisions for the right reasons than to any mystical power.
Lee's post-War life - tragically far too brief - is the best testimony to Lee's character and heart. Lee looked forward for the South and for the nation. He focused on healing the country and, in remarkably stark contrast to nearly all other Civil War officers on both sides; he didn't "re-fight" the War or seek to capitalize on the fame of his service, or try to burnish his reputation by disparaging the others involved. He had the good sense and magnanimity to leave the War where it belonged - in the Past. His tenure as President of Washington University was spent working diligently to instill the ideals of honor and humility and service in the students because he believed the success of their Futures in the nation they were inheriting would be determined almost completely by their faithfulness to those basic ideals.
Lee certainly had flaws and Harwell isn't bashful or apologetic in describing them. But that's good because it lets Lee be human when we meet him instead of some inscrutable, unapproachable demi-god from the hoary pages of Glory.
Harwell (and presumably biographer Freeman) believes that the key to understanding this incredible person, Robert E. Lee, is to understand that Lee was always a man of Christian Faith, ideals and strong spiritual substance. In fact Harwell believes the essence of Lee was/is his simplicity and spirituality. He presents Lee's inner character and attitude as something of a "Pilgrim's Progress" study or, in today's parlance, a devoted WWJD personage, and makes convincing links between that and the Lee the world saw in action. The salient point is that Lee didn't wave the Christian banner nearly as much as he simply lived the Christian ideals and tried to emulate the life of his hero Jesus Christ.
That likely explains why Lee was, and is, acclaimed - virtually around the entire World - as among the greatest people of the 19th Century. If you enjoy keeping splendid company, you'll be thrilled with Robert E. Lee. He may well truly be the best person you ever meet.
13 people found this helpful
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Francisco Lozano
5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing book.
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2014
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I had to read this for my college history class. I chose it out of a long list given to us by the professor because I've always had an interest in the Civil War. That was the best decision I made all semester. This really was a life changing book. It taught me the truths and lessons that all young men of character must come to know. "Teach him that he must deny himself." These words of Gen. Lee are the key of the man and of this book. The theme of sacrifice is the heart of the book. This is what made him the great man that he was and if you, dear wandering soul dying of thirst in a mediocre world, come and drink from the fount of wisdom and virtue then you too can master yourself and start on the path to excellence. The Hungarian Catholic Bishop Tihamer Toth said it best in his book, "The Young Man of Character": 'Few men are born to be conquerors. Few men are born to be leaders of countries. But to conquer the realm of the soul, and to gain the crown of manly character, this lofty task awaits each one of us.' This lofty task does truly await us, and this book will help you get there.
16 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2023
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A great read. I’m thoroughly enjoying it. And I read a lot of history
4 people found this helpful
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Argincourt
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Biography
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2013
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I've read many biography's but this book written by Richard Harwell stands alone in my opinion. It is riveting reading encompassing everything for every one whether it be of general historical interest or it be for military enthusiasts giving detailed action between the North Virginia Army and the Union Federal Forces for duration of the Civil war.

Reading this book I now have a definitive understanding of Robert E. Lee, now knowing why this man is still revered to this day in America. He was a highly intelligent, principled and religious man who embraced his life fully from start to finish. He epitomised what he felt was right as a leader of men, as a husband and father and as President of Washington College in its early development to what this institution has become today. In short he was an amazing man.

This book is highly recommended, a milestone that will draw many readers to its pages for its historical content.

Cheers.
12 people found this helpful
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rlcamazon
5.0 out of 5 stars A great man, Robert E. Lee, for any time any age.
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2014
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Very satisfying history to read. An exceptional man working in very, very difficult circumstances. Modern readers will find it difficult to find a comparable man in our midst.
Another time and other places where man and women where made of a much greater stuff than now. With basic, good human values and great intellect, compassion, forbearance, patience, knowledge in the art of war, who accepted and worked with man of lesser capacity than his. Yes, lesser talents (understanding) than his.
He knew of man frailties, vanities and accepted them as such without belittling them, so he could use their talented parts for a clear objective. Even though the objective failed and was flawed, the effort was grand and glorious for the man, Robert E. Lee, for his character was very special for our history as Americans. A good example for any any man at any time, regardless of the passing of time..
24 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars it is a biography
Reviewed in Canada on May 1, 2023
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well written and very knowledgeable
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Roby D.
3.0 out of 5 stars Buon riassunto
Reviewed in Italy on January 30, 2023
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La monumentale biografia del gen. Lee scritta dal sempre piacevole D.S. Freeman viene qui riassunta, abilmente direi, da Richard Harwell.
Purtroppo il libro è afflitto da scarsità di mappe , il che costringe il lettore a far ricorso ad altri testi (o alla propria memoria, che però può essere fallace - almeno nel mio caso) per seguire gli spostamenti degli eserciti.
Purtroppo il buon D.S. Freeman è un pò troppo di parte, il gen. Lee viene piazzato su un altare, santificato dall'autore senza che vi sia mai una valutazione men che positiva del suo agire e questo modo di scrivere una biografia risulta piuttosto datato.
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Alec
5.0 out of 5 stars Won Christmas with this book
Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2021
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Gift for a family member. They loved the book for its authoritative account and excellent details. Arrived quickly and in excellent condition.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Second book
Reviewed in Canada on April 2, 2020
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Second book I have picked up General Robert E. Lee and found a lot of similar information which is to be expected I guess, but none the less I still found this book worth the read.
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Mark B. F.
2.0 out of 5 stars Inaccurate details of battles
Reviewed in Canada on October 1, 2021
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This is a lovely work of “fiction” by the son of a former CSA officer who grew up idolizing Lee and the old South. The book presents Lee as a god-like vision, perfect, incapable of error. Any shortcomings are ascribed to others. After all, the god-like Lee must rely on mere men to carry out his orders. The description of. The battle of Gettysburg is filled with inaccuracies and incorrect information, and subscribes to the now disproven notion that Longstreet was the cause of the Confederate loss.

If you are looking for a factual account of RE Lee and the civil war, DO NOT read this book. If, however, you are well acquainted with the battles and wish to see how they were described by those who worshipped Lee, then this book provides insight into that story.
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