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 Using dozens of previously unpublished letters as departure points, Pryor produces a stunning personal account of Lee's military ability, shedding new light on every aspect of the complex and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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... fear the next sacrifice must be the horses—We have very seldom more than one dish on the table of meat, to the great discomfort of my young Ladies & Gentlemen.... Ann prefers fowls, but they are so high, that they are sparingly delt in ...
... fear the next sacrifice must be the horses—We have very seldom more than one dish on the table of meat, to the great discomfort of my young Ladies & Gentlemen.... Ann prefers fowls, but they are so high, that they are sparingly delt in ...
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... Grandfather did not pay Capt Massie...Oh Mildred I fear he did wrong.”67 Robert Lee read all of his eldest brother's ill-conceived diatribes, which in defending Light-Horse Harry also resurrected the malicious talk about him, and.
... Grandfather did not pay Capt Massie...Oh Mildred I fear he did wrong.”67 Robert Lee read all of his eldest brother's ill-conceived diatribes, which in defending Light-Horse Harry also resurrected the malicious talk about him, and.
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... fear I may have no opportunity. We are waiting with anxiety to [torn] that our agent in Norfolk [torn] chartered a vessel for Liberi[a]. I fear delay in this expedition will be considerable. We are without a sufficient number of ...
... fear I may have no opportunity. We are waiting with anxiety to [torn] that our agent in Norfolk [torn] chartered a vessel for Liberi[a]. I fear delay in this expedition will be considerable. We are without a sufficient number of ...
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... fear of a military rabble terrorizing the populace. In daily practice this program was almost impossible to uphold without error. The meals at the academy were stunningly bad, for example, and some errant cadets were given demerits ...
... fear of a military rabble terrorizing the populace. In daily practice this program was almost impossible to uphold without error. The meals at the academy were stunningly bad, for example, and some errant cadets were given demerits ...
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... fear I am too much prejudiced to say anything more, but that it went very rapidly & still continues to do so. We are this far on our way to the upper country, where we shall spend the remainder of my leave of absence, and I there hope ...
... fear I am too much prejudiced to say anything more, but that it went very rapidly & still continues to do so. We are this far on our way to the upper country, where we shall spend the remainder of my leave of absence, and I there hope ...
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