Reading the Man: A Portrait of Robert E. Lee Through His Private Letters“Pryor’s biography helps part with a lot of stupid out there about Lee – chiefly, that he was, somehow, ‘anti-slavery.’” – Ta-Nehisi Coates, theatlantic.com An “unorthodox, critical, and engaging biography” (Boston Globe) – Winner of The Lincoln Prize Robert E. Lee is remembered by history as a tragic figure, stoic and brave but distant and enigmatic. Using dozens of previously unpublished letters as departure points, Pryor produces a stunning personal account of Lee's military ability, shedding new light on every aspect of the complex and contradictory general's life story. Explained for the first time in the context of the young United States's tumultuous societal developments, Lee's actions reveal a man forced to play a leading role in the formation of the nation at the cost of his private happiness. |
From inside the book
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... death would probably tend to discourage the practice...,” the general told him in 1779. “I think that the part of your proposal which respects cutting off their heads and sending them to the Light Troops had better be omitted.”16 Ugly ...
... death would probably tend to discourage the practice...,” the general told him in 1779. “I think that the part of your proposal which respects cutting off their heads and sending them to the Light Troops had better be omitted.”16 Ugly ...
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... death ninety of them, and wounded most of the rest. The incident had been started by the British, and Lee called the whole encounter “unintentional,” but it left a set of questions that were difficult to answer.17 Exhausted emotionally ...
... death ninety of them, and wounded most of the rest. The incident had been started by the British, and Lee called the whole encounter “unintentional,” but it left a set of questions that were difficult to answer.17 Exhausted emotionally ...
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... death of his eldest and dearest son, devastated Henry Lee. He poured out his anguish to sympathetic James Madison, sorrowing that the “domestic calamity which stirs me to the quick...has removed me far from the happy enjoyment of life ...
... death of his eldest and dearest son, devastated Henry Lee. He poured out his anguish to sympathetic James Madison, sorrowing that the “domestic calamity which stirs me to the quick...has removed me far from the happy enjoyment of life ...
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... death of his one-time nemesis, Patrick Henry. Hearing the news at dinner, Lee called for paper and pen and wrote a striking and beautiful elegy. “Mourn, Virginia, mourn,” it began, “say to rising generations— Imitate my Henry.”37 His ...
... death of his one-time nemesis, Patrick Henry. Hearing the news at dinner, Lee called for paper and pen and wrote a striking and beautiful elegy. “Mourn, Virginia, mourn,” it began, “say to rising generations— Imitate my Henry.”37 His ...
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... death—could not suffice for the burgeoning commercial world of the early national period.46 Henry Lee never really grasped this change. Moreover, he unwisely mixed politics and business in transactions that would be considered unethical ...
... death—could not suffice for the burgeoning commercial world of the early national period.46 Henry Lee never really grasped this change. Moreover, he unwisely mixed politics and business in transactions that would be considered unethical ...
Contents
Seven Arias | |
Pioneers | |
Odyssey | |
Theory Meets Reality | |
Upon a Fearful Summons | |
Field of Honor | |
A GeneralIs a Rare Product | |
ApogeePerigee | |
Overwhelmed | |
The Political Animal | |
The Family Circle | |
Humanity and the | |
Adrenaline | |
Crenellations | |
BlackEyed Fancies | |
The Headache | |
Mutable Shield | |
Ragged Individualists 399 | |
A Leap in the Dark | |
Blurred Vision | |
If Vanquished I Am Still Victorious | |
Acknowledgments | |
Selected Bibliography | |
Index | |
Other editions - View all
Reading the Man: A Portrait of Robert E. Lee Through His Private Letters Elizabeth Brown Pryor No preview available - 2008 |
Reading the Man: A Portrait of Robert E. Lee Through His Private Letters Elizabeth Brown Pryor No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
actions American appears Arlington army arrived battle became began believed brother cadets called Carter cause command Confederate considered continued cousin Custis daughter Davis DE-LC dear death Diary early Engineers example expressed father fear feel fight finally followed forces friends gave George give given hand Henry Lee hope important interest John July June kind later Lee’s letter lines lived look March Mary Mexican military months mother never North Northern noted officers once political Press question quoted remained Richmond Robert Robert Lee Scott seems servants slavery slaves society soldiers South southern Texas things thought told took tried troops Union United University Virginia wanted Washington West Point wife writing wrote York young