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The Life of Robert E. Lee: Library Edition
In preparing the Life of Lee for Children, for use in the Public Schools, I beg leave to place before teachers good reasons for employing it as a supplementary reader. First, I urge the need of interesting our children in history at an early age. From observation I find that the minds of children who study history early expand more rapidly than those who are restricted to the limits of stories in readers. While teaching pupils to read, why not fix in their minds the names and deeds of our great men, thereby laying the foundation of historical knowledge and instilling true patriotism into their youthful souls? Secondly, in looking over the lives of our American heroes we find not one which presents such a picture of moral grandeur as that of Lee. Place this picture before the little ones and you cannot fail to make them look upward to noble ideals.—Mary L. Williamson, 1898
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 1895
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 31, 2022
(Gratuitous EOY book count padding)
Holy mackerel!
I still consider myself a Civil War Newbie as I’ve just gotten into the war/battles/characters over the past 2-3 years and really fascinated with it this year. So my reading list is limited. I was encouraged by the civil war enthusiasts I do listen to in booktube (Bill Ruttenberg & Peg from The History Shelf) and podcasts (Civil War Breakfast Club) that one should read multiple books on a character or subject to get a wide range of opinions.
On Lee, I’ve read Guelzo’s “Lee” (balanced) and Ty Seidule’s “Robert E Lee and Me” (condemning) and want to read Douglas Southhall Freeman’s multi-volume set (glowing) on Lee. But, this one popped up on my free audiobooks and it was a shorty that could be finished on a good long walk (2 hrs at 1.3 speed) and I picked it not knowing much.
This was a short biography of Robert E Lee written in 1895 (I didn’t know the year when I picked it and didn’t see the year until AFTER I’d finished it.) But the book has some major issues. I can’t say it is just falsehoods/lies but it seemed the author provided an overly glowing characterization of Lee and should have provided more evidence for some of the claims it makes.
Three major issues:
* Author minimizes Slavery as the cause of the war and even makes comments that the slaves “loved their masters” and it was providence that God “brought them to America to become Christian” , the author also doesn’t even mention Lee in charge of his in-laws’ slaves after the death of his Father-in-Law …. WTH?
* More than any other book, podcast, lecture on Lee the author accentuates Lee’s faith and piety as a man of God. She includes quotes from letters and anecdotes of conversations, but can any of that be believed after what was said about slavery? Guelzo made it seem like Lee was kind of ambivalent about faith, he’d go and go through the motions but….? This book made him sound like a saint.
* Finally, I see an prime example of what current historians pan as “The Lost Cause” excuse for losing the war. As Ms. Williams consistently blames everyone and everything BUT Lee for the loss of the war, and I think somewhere in there even claimed he never lost a battle?!?! Hello!!! Gettysburg!!!
I am glad I read/heard the book. I needed to understand what current historians and enthusiasts mean by some of the late 1800s/early 1900s writing and glorification of Lee, the Confederacy, and the Lost Cause.
I don’t recommend it other than to understand the diverse opinions out there on historical /controversial folks from that period.
Holy mackerel!
I still consider myself a Civil War Newbie as I’ve just gotten into the war/battles/characters over the past 2-3 years and really fascinated with it this year. So my reading list is limited. I was encouraged by the civil war enthusiasts I do listen to in booktube (Bill Ruttenberg & Peg from The History Shelf) and podcasts (Civil War Breakfast Club) that one should read multiple books on a character or subject to get a wide range of opinions.
On Lee, I’ve read Guelzo’s “Lee” (balanced) and Ty Seidule’s “Robert E Lee and Me” (condemning) and want to read Douglas Southhall Freeman’s multi-volume set (glowing) on Lee. But, this one popped up on my free audiobooks and it was a shorty that could be finished on a good long walk (2 hrs at 1.3 speed) and I picked it not knowing much.
This was a short biography of Robert E Lee written in 1895 (I didn’t know the year when I picked it and didn’t see the year until AFTER I’d finished it.) But the book has some major issues. I can’t say it is just falsehoods/lies but it seemed the author provided an overly glowing characterization of Lee and should have provided more evidence for some of the claims it makes.
Three major issues:
* Author minimizes Slavery as the cause of the war and even makes comments that the slaves “loved their masters” and it was providence that God “brought them to America to become Christian” , the author also doesn’t even mention Lee in charge of his in-laws’ slaves after the death of his Father-in-Law …. WTH?
* More than any other book, podcast, lecture on Lee the author accentuates Lee’s faith and piety as a man of God. She includes quotes from letters and anecdotes of conversations, but can any of that be believed after what was said about slavery? Guelzo made it seem like Lee was kind of ambivalent about faith, he’d go and go through the motions but….? This book made him sound like a saint.
* Finally, I see an prime example of what current historians pan as “The Lost Cause” excuse for losing the war. As Ms. Williams consistently blames everyone and everything BUT Lee for the loss of the war, and I think somewhere in there even claimed he never lost a battle?!?! Hello!!! Gettysburg!!!
I am glad I read/heard the book. I needed to understand what current historians and enthusiasts mean by some of the late 1800s/early 1900s writing and glorification of Lee, the Confederacy, and the Lost Cause.
I don’t recommend it other than to understand the diverse opinions out there on historical /controversial folks from that period.
February 20, 2012
"Winners of wars write history", according to the popular saying. This text gives us the other perspective. A southern sympathizer wrote this in 1895. According to Williamson, slaves love their masters, Native Americans are savages who eat raw meat and sleep on the ground and Lee did not loose any battles he just ran out of supplies. Modern readers will recognize this book as absurd and offensive.
May 5, 2022
The biggest standout was Lee refusing to call the Union soldiers derisive terms, but simply referring to them as 'those people.' After the war he sought reconciliation with those who had destroyed his homeland while many prople around him steeped in hatred.
August 20, 2011
If you're to only read one book about Robert E Lee...this would probably not be it
February 20, 2022
This was nice.
April 23, 2018
The only interesting thing about the book is that it is written in 1895 and that provides an interesting perspective. Overall the books reads like a book report on General Lee.
February 6, 2017
What great man General Robert E. Lee was. If people would 'actually' read this book
or others about him they would find the man that other men aspire to. This is
a very good book.
or others about him they would find the man that other men aspire to. This is
a very good book.
November 29, 2022
Written for young readers being introduced to General Lee.
June 28, 2023
why too short and condensed!
July 1, 2023
A good examination from the period on Lee's life and demonstrates how and why many Americans and foreigners admired Robert E Lee.
May 27, 2014
father ride shoot and tell the truth, born 1.19.07, St Louis for river works, at 54 if we could give up all 4M slaves to preserve union I would do it, daughter His Will be done, soldier for 40 years, Grant insured no postwar trial, duty in service, knew names all students at Washington & Lee college, calmness in trials of life 1870 to chapel, Traveler horse, make better for those people, my loss at Gettysburg, pray for loses, Grant of 3 meals give 2 to south as near starve, Lee sought out Grant.
February 16, 2026
Essentially just Lost Cause hagiography. I greatly admire Lee, but Williamson makes him out to be some sort of flawless demigod who was incapable of error, whether that be moral, strategic, or otherwise. The book is clearly targeted towards children as well, so don’t expect advanced historical writing. You would probably get a better understanding of who Lee was by skimming his Wikipedia page for 20 minutes.
Read
December 4, 2008IT IS READERS DIGEST VERSION OF GEN LEE'S ENTIRE LIFE. CHILDREN WERE GIVEN THE OPPOTUNITY TO READ AND LEARN ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT MAN IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT BOOKS SUCH AS THIS ARE NO LONGER PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM.
July 16, 2009
I listened to enough of this to recognize it as a short hagiography, as well as a slavery-apologist rewriting of history. The South Shall Rise Again!
January 16, 2012
It is a bit of a glorification of Robert E. Lee. Lee is such a good, morale, kind, etc, man. I got bored with it because it started to follow a pattern. decent read.....only for a couple of days
February 12, 2014
Story told as if written from the president of his fan club in the 1800s.
Read
May 17, 2015I really enjoyed the poem at the beginning of the book. I have recently had a soft spot for Gen. Lee because of his sense of honor and duty. He was a real gentleman and loved children.
March 2, 2016
An interesting read. Written in 1895. I haven't read many books written in this time period.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews