Virginia's General: Robert E. Lee and the Civil War

by Albert Marrin

The companion volume to Unconditional U. S. Grant and the Civil War provides an in-depth study of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, discussing his West Point education, military career, campaigns, and personal life and beliefs.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Civil War, American History, School, Historical

218 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Albert Marrin is a historian and the author of more than twenty nonfiction books for young people. He has won various awards for his writing, including the 2005 James Madison Book Award and the 2008 National Endowment for Humanities Medal. In 2011, his book Flesh and Blood So Cheap was a National Book Award Finalist. Marrin is the Chairman of the History Department at New York's Yeshiva University.

Reviews

[Jeniann]

I had not known too much about Robert E. Lee before reading this book. He was strikingly similar to George Washington in many ways, in fact, Washington was his greatest hero. Lee just happened to be fighting for the losing side. And yet, I'm not sure how he would have done differently. I sure hope I would never be given the choice to choose between fighting for my country to attack my own family and friends, or to fight for a cause along with my family and friends that I don't personally believe in. He chose to protect his family. This book gave me an appreciation for the Civil War and its complexities. It really was not as cut and dry as I had thought it was, and I could understand the Southern point of view more fully and understand better why they chose what they did. And the South sure had an honorable and great leader in General Lee.

[Denver Hines]

Great book but oh my gosh they glazed Lee so much.

[George]

This is a really good, detailed, account of civil war battles and figures. Unfortunately, it is also rather biased. Even after this overly worshipful description of Robert E. Lee, I still find him to have been in a position due some criticism. He is credited with a most acute sense of human rights and equality and is quoted as being anti-slavery. My question: Why does a man professed of these beliefs then fight for a cause which he claims not to endorse? Does this make him a figure deserved of such respect?
I have heard so many people argue that this war was over state's rights, but having read many (congressional) documents from both sides from this era, it remains an issue of human rights, instead. The southern senators were not complaining about states rights--they were championing slavery.
So I guess Lee's most admirable quality is one of loyalty, even to a cause he disagreed with. I wish he had acted on principle rather than blind loyalty. It would have saved thousands of lives.

[Hope Berry]

I read this book for my history class. A lot of history books I have read are very good, but some don’t grab my attention as easily as others. Virginia’s General was a challenging but interesting book filled with many facts and stories about the Civil War and of course about Virginia’s brave, intelligent, kind, and heroic General, Robert E. Lee.

Although it was a bit biased at the end, I’m very glad I read this book, and I would definitely recommend!

[Sabrina Bailey]

3.5 stars

[Anna]

what hero worship crap is this

[Eva M]

2.5
Was genuinely interested and enjoyed it

[Dexter]

Definitely the best-written book in my history course so far.

Robert E. Lee has now made my list of favorite historical figures, along with several other Civil War fellows. But all in all, this book made me incredibly sorry for the North, who seemed to get stuck with some very awful generals.

[Leigh]

Not a bad book, but Albert Marrin has written some brilliant juvenile nonfiction and there are better books by him out there.