Robert E. Lee

A Life

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.

Excellent Bio

This is an excellent, balanced overview of Robert E Lee’s life, ably describing the man’s talents while being unsparing about his flaws and his crimes. Highly recommended.

Not top notch

I’m not happy with this trend of pointing out Roberty Lee’s treason. What with the statues been torn down and the new order coming in I’m finding it quite tedious to read a biography that does not truly understand the aristocracy and the worth of the southern culture. It doesn’t matter how efficiently you’re right and how talented you are if you’re going down the wrong highway you’ll never get to your destination
Kathryn Rogers

Review of Robert E Lee

The author helps the reader to glean the truth from facts, across the level of time

The authors cross examination skills.

I’ve met the author in person, a truly genuine man. His works on the Battle of Gettysburg, and of Robert E. Lee is fair and judicial. He doesn’t have an apparent bias on the topics and it seems to reflect in his work. Well done again Mr. Guelzo!

An interesting man in our nation's history

Great history lesson of a complex man who effectively lived through and in a difficult time in our nation's history