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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 14, 2011 22:38:25 GMT -5
Has anyone seen the new special on Lee on PBS's "American Experience?" Just started watching it tonight.
Can anyone suggest a quality bio of Lee?
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Post by Chuck T on Nov 15, 2011 0:05:12 GMT -5
R.E. Lee by Freeman, but read his Lee's Lieutenants first.
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Post by Herb on Nov 15, 2011 8:58:50 GMT -5
Freeman can't be beat.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 15, 2011 9:21:47 GMT -5
Thanks guys; I'll check it out. If you get a chance to see that TV special, it's pretty well done; runs nearly 90 minutes.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 15, 2011 9:37:50 GMT -5
Well, I see that he wrote a massive 4-volume bio in the 1930s, but there is a 600-page one volume abridged version of that. I don't think I can handle the 4 volumes, but how much is lost in the abridged version?
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Post by TRK on Nov 15, 2011 10:33:25 GMT -5
Allen, buy or borrow the 4-volume set if you can. It's a masterpiece of American biography, for cripes' sake, and it really isn't a slow, tedious read. I have the 4-vol set and 1-vol abridged edition, and I hardly ever reach for the 1-vol one.
If you're looking for a "modern" treatment of Lee, I'd venture that Emory Thomas's is probably the best.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 15, 2011 10:51:00 GMT -5
Thanks Tom; that will go on my search list for a used copy I can afford. I'll check Bookfinder.com (if it exists, you'll find it there). I'll check out the Thomas as well.
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Post by Chuck T on Nov 15, 2011 11:19:40 GMT -5
Reading the one volume of Lee as opposed to the four volume masterpiece, is like reading the one volume Morisson naval history of WWII as opposed to the 15 volume history. It just ain't the same. Allen I suggested the three volume Lee's Lieutenants to read first because then you can get a much clearer picture of all of the diverse personalities that Lee had to deal with, and therefore appreciate Lee the man and commander all the more.
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Post by Kevin Young on Nov 19, 2011 18:51:56 GMT -5
Allen-a copy of the article on my research on Robert E. Lee and cats is on the way.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 19, 2011 23:42:48 GMT -5
Many thanks Kevin! Very thoughtful and much appreciated! I'll look forward to reading and discussing it with you!
Allen
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Post by loucapitano on Nov 21, 2011 17:49:49 GMT -5
If you're interested, I found a little gem in a library surplus book close-out titled "The Robert E. Lee Reader," edited by Stanley F. Horn, by Konecky & Konecky in 1949 - ISBN 0-914427-83-0.
It gathers extracts from the writings (up to 1949) of the many people who have researched Lee as their historical subject. I love the primary sources, of which there are many.
I know it can't match the Dr. Freeman four-volume biography which the editor calls a masterpiece, but it collects many of Lees contemporaries who knew him personally.
It's a good read.
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