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 Using dozens of previously unpublished letters as departure points, Pryor produces a stunning personal account of Lee's military ability, shedding new light on every aspect of the complex and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
Results 1-5 of 86
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... young American nation developed a fledgling postal system, expanding on the pioneering work Benjamin Franklin had done as postmaster in Philadelphia.4 Prior to this, as a grandfather of Lee's wife grouchily remarked, there had existed ...
... young American nation developed a fledgling postal system, expanding on the pioneering work Benjamin Franklin had done as postmaster in Philadelphia.4 Prior to this, as a grandfather of Lee's wife grouchily remarked, there had existed ...
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... young he learned to pen the gracious clef-shaped f to indicate a doubles, as had been the custom in the previous century, and he used this notation throughout his life. He liked & and &c signs, and he always shortened Christmas to Xmas ...
... young he learned to pen the gracious clef-shaped f to indicate a doubles, as had been the custom in the previous century, and he used this notation throughout his life. He liked & and &c signs, and he always shortened Christmas to Xmas ...
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... young child. He died before he could return home, and what exposure Robert had to his father's tastes and philosophy must have come through his letters. In later life he edited some of them, egged on by his older brother Carter, and ...
... young child. He died before he could return home, and what exposure Robert had to his father's tastes and philosophy must have come through his letters. In later life he edited some of them, egged on by his older brother Carter, and ...
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... young men, but remained with the Union in 1861. Despite Meigs's detestation of all regular army officers who chose to align themselves with the South, his daughter married a cousin of the Lees, Joseph Hancock Taylor. As the family story ...
... young men, but remained with the Union in 1861. Despite Meigs's detestation of all regular army officers who chose to align themselves with the South, his daughter married a cousin of the Lees, Joseph Hancock Taylor. As the family story ...
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... young man in Virginia for excellence of various sorts—His genius, liberality, his devotion to his mother's family & promise of eminence being the theme of every one—was convicted of crimes of the blackest dye. He married a Lady of ...
... young man in Virginia for excellence of various sorts—His genius, liberality, his devotion to his mother's family & promise of eminence being the theme of every one—was convicted of crimes of the blackest dye. He married a Lady of ...
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