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 Using dozens of previously unpublished letters as departure points, Pryor produces a stunning personal account of Lee's military ability, shedding new light on every aspect of the complex and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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... southern whites were literate. Many were also traveling, exercising their right to explore and settle the vast American continent, and to describe the experience to those left behind. Technological advances revolutionized the production ...
... southern whites were literate. Many were also traveling, exercising their right to explore and settle the vast American continent, and to describe the experience to those left behind. Technological advances revolutionized the production ...
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... southern society as to be a unifying link between gentlemen, with little dishonor attached. Perhaps so, but Harry Lee had worn out the unspoken statute of limitations.65 A few of his compatriots from the war maintained that his “talents ...
... southern society as to be a unifying link between gentlemen, with little dishonor attached. Perhaps so, but Harry Lee had worn out the unspoken statute of limitations.65 A few of his compatriots from the war maintained that his “talents ...
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... southern educational institution, with a shelf full of sophisticated calculus books, a chemistry lab, and a “magic lantern” that illuminated astronomical slides. All of this suited Robert's goal of improving his technical skills before ...
... southern educational institution, with a shelf full of sophisticated calculus books, a chemistry lab, and a “magic lantern” that illuminated astronomical slides. All of this suited Robert's goal of improving his technical skills before ...
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... Southern Department of the United States, published in 1869. Carter, ever on the alert for an opportunity to revive the Lee reputation, harnessed his nowcelebrated brother to finally lay to rest any doubts about his family's greatness ...
... Southern Department of the United States, published in 1869. Carter, ever on the alert for an opportunity to revive the Lee reputation, harnessed his nowcelebrated brother to finally lay to rest any doubts about his family's greatness ...
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... southern way of life, but in 1803 Custis was ahead of his time by nearly two decades in incorporating the style into domestic architecture. Inside, the design was as striking as the exterior, with eighteen-foot ceilings, lovely large ...
... southern way of life, but in 1803 Custis was ahead of his time by nearly two decades in incorporating the style into domestic architecture. Inside, the design was as striking as the exterior, with eighteen-foot ceilings, lovely large ...
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