Longstreet

The Confederate General Who Defied the South

De: Elizabeth Varon

Narrado por: Fred Sanders

Winner, American Battlefield Trust Prize for History
Winner, Library of Virginia Literary Award for Nonfiction
Finalist, Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography

A “compelling portrait” (Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize­–winning author) of the controversial Confederate general who later embraced Reconstruction and became an outcast in the South.

It was the most remarkable political about-face in American history. During the Civil War, General James Longstreet fought tenaciously for the Confederacy. He was alongside Lee at Gettysburg (and counseled him not to order the ill-fated attacks on entrenched Union forces there). He won a major Confederate victory at Chickamauga and was seriously wounded during a later battle.

After the war, Longstreet moved to New Orleans, where he dramatically changed course. He supported Black voting and joined the newly elected, integrated postwar government in Louisiana. When white supremacists took up arms to oust that government, Longstreet, leading the interracial state militia, did battle against former Confederates. His defiance ignited a firestorm of controversy, as white Southerners branded him a race traitor and blamed him retroactively for the South’s defeat in the Civil War.

Although he was one of the highest-ranking Confederate generals, Longstreet has never been commemorated with statues or other memorials in the South because of his postwar actions in rejecting the Lost Cause mythology and urging racial reconciliation. He is being discovered in the new age of racial reckoning as “one of the most enduringly relevant voices in American history” (The Wall Street Journal). This is the first authoritative biography in decades and the first that “brilliantly creates the wider context for Longstreet’s career” (The New York Times).

©2023 Elizabeth Varon (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Confederate general going against the white leagues

Not your normal confederate general. Pro reconstruction it made him a target. To this day they seem to be coming after his records and fabricating a history to control the white southern narrative. Eye opening.

It fairly treats both halves of his life—up to Appomattox and the longer half beyond

Longstreet had quite a varied career after the war, helping the nation reunify politically, socially, and economically. He was heavily involved in trying to get the South to accept the new, free status of formerly enslaved people, both as a way to unify the nation, to make it economically stronger, and because he came to appreciate the talents of numerous blacks. For this his war record was heavily attacked, so he vigorously defended it. Thus this book has much to say about Lost Cause historiography. A solid plus was the introduction of his 2nd wife to my knowledge, Helen Dortch Longstreet—42 years younger than him, she lived to 99 and had a varied career and evolution herself. This book altogether satisfied my desires in picking up this book— to understand the post-Civil War evolution of the United States and especially Longstreet’s evolution with it. It does, of course, also cover his Civil War years and that was interesting, too.

A complete look at the life of a remarkable soldier and patriot

Clear, concise articulation. Superb organization. Highly readable prose. Deserves to be placed among the most honored works of American history.

Detailed, but not enough that it slows it down.

Longstreet got a raw deal. Great book that gives someone a second chance that deserves one.

An excellent biography!

Ms. Varon’s biography reflects her thorough and diligent research of the historic record and of the extant literature on Longstreet.

Longstreet, Ahead of His Time

James Longstreet was an outstanding patriot his entire life. His post war career moved in the direction all the South should have moved — accepted defeat, worked with Reconstruction and rejected white supremacist terrorism to suppress blacks. America would have been better today if we had.

Quite good

As a descendant of Longstreet I’ve long wondered about his life, his legacy, and Gettysburg. This account was wonderful.

Informative and Fascinating

Excellent book. I learned a great deal about James Longstreet, the famous controversy and his post war activities set against the fascinating time he lived through in his post war career. He was a man of great courage and conviction, standing against the tide of white southern “lost cause” dogma and bigotry. He is an example of a man that was ready for reconciliation, unity, and national comity, ready to uphold the pardon at Appomattox to rebuild the nation. I didn’t care for the reader. While clear and measured, I felt an AI could have done the same work.

Fascinating

Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South

By Elizabeth Varon

It is said we are different people throughout our lives. Varon’s description of Longstreet’s life makes it apparent he is an excellent example.
He served with distinction in the US Army, graduating West Point and becoming close friends with many men he would later fight, including US Grant. He went Confederate with the Civil War and was a trusted lieutenant to Robert E. Lee. He disagreed with Lee at Gettysburg.
After the war he became a Republican and tried to help reunite. He led a militia that defended Republicans and former slaves in New Orleans, became active in Georgia politics.
Definitely an interesting read.

Interesting look at one of the most argued figures of the civil war

This is a well done book. Really does have an impact even on the modern world and does a good job looking at the historiography of one of the longest lived generals of the civil war. This book has most of it's focus after the civil war. My one little criticism is I would have liked a bit more early in his life. We are in Gettysburg amazingly fast in the book. But post war you can see why he becomes a villain to many in the south. Impressive how he converts so many of his beliefs over time. Worth a read for sure.