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I'm looking for a good R. E. Lee biography (in French or English) : not a one sided hagiography but a book trying to understand all the complexity of the character.

Have you any recommandation ?

As far as I know, such a biography has not yet been written. From my own library, I would suggest Gary W. Gallagher's (ed.) Lee the Soldier, a collection of essays. Alan T. Nolan's Lee Reconsidered offers a bit of revisionist history. We are all complex, but I've always regarded Lee as the most straightforward of men. Was it not he who said that "duty" was the most sublime word in the English language?

Thanks a lot, I'll have a look at both proposals.

I know this is 5 months late, but Douglas Southall Freeman wrote the definitive biography on Lee. It's a 4 volume work. He also wrote the most comprehensive history of the Army of Northern Virginia, a three volume work called "Lee's Lieutenants." Freeman's work is from the 30's, IIRC, so you have to view it in the context of Civil War writing at the time.

Both are freely available online in PDF format. They are quite excellent reads.

I've just come through your answer. Thanks a lot for the reference, I'll try to find it.

Mickey3D wrote:I'm looking for a good R. E. Lee biography (in French or English) : not a one sided hagiography but a book trying to understand all the complexity of the character.

Have you any recommandation ?

In French, there is a Robert E. Lee : la légende sudiste by V. Bernard, published in last april. I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure Bob blinked when I glanced at him. Here's a short critique : http://guerres-et-conflits.over-blog.com/2014/05/le-gentleman-sudiste.html

Thanks Bruit Bleu, I have seen the book in the bookstore but was not sure of its quality.

Mickey3D wrote:I'm looking for a good R. E. Lee biography (in French or English) : not a one sided hagiography but a book trying to understand all the complexity of the character.

Have you any recommandation ?

Clouds of Glory is a new book about Lee by Michael Korda. I'm halfway through and it's excellent.

Thanks StatboyVT.

Cacrict, I think you've lost your way on the Internet. I hope you sing better than you surf.