Robert E. Lee A Life
“Robert E. Lee A Life” by Allen C. Guelzo, published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on August 9, 2022, is a comprehensive biography that delves into the complexities of one of America’s most controversial historical figures. This edition spans 624 pages and is presented in English. Guelzo offers an intimate exploration of Robert E. Lee, examining his dualities—his courage and hypocrisy, his calm demeanor juxtaposed with inner turmoil, and his conflicting notions of honor and disloyalty.
Readers will find a detailed account of Lee’s life, tracing his journey from a privileged upbringing in Virginia to his pivotal role in the U.S. Army and his eventual decision to join the Confederacy during the Civil War. The biography addresses the contradictions in Lee’s character, including his views on slavery and his legacy as a military leader. Guelzo’s work contributes to the understanding of Lee’s life within the broader context of American history, particularly during the Civil War period.
Official synopsis Publisher
A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the award-winning historian and best-selling author of Gettysburg comes the definitive biography of Robert E. Lee. An intimate look at the Confederate general in all his complexity—his hypocrisy and courage, his inner turmoil and outward calm, his disloyalty and his honor.
“An important contribution to reconciling the myths with the facts.” —New York Times Book Review
Robert E. Lee is one of the most confounding figures in American history. Lee betrayed his nation in order to defend his home state and uphold the slave system he claimed to oppose. He was a traitor to the country he swore to serve as an Army officer, and yet he was admired even by his enemies for his composure and leadership. He considered slavery immoral, but benefited from inherited slaves and fought to defend the institution. And behind his genteel demeanor and perfectionism lurked the insecurities of a man haunted by the legacy of a father who stained the family name by declaring bankruptcy and who disappeared when Robert was just six years old.
In Robert E. Lee, the award-winning historian Allen Guelzo has written the definitive biography of the general, following him from his refined upbringing in Virginia high society, to his long career in the U.S. Army, his agonized decision to side with Virginia when it seceded from the Union, and his leadership during the Civil War. Above all, Guelzo captures Robert E. Lee in all his complexity–his hypocrisy and courage, his outward calm and inner turmoil, his honor and his disloyalty.
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