Book Review: Robert E. Lee: A Life by Allen Guelzo

Interesting to note that the review for the same book in the conservative Claremont Review of Books (for which Guelzo is a contributor) also largely concurs with the author's critical assessment[1].

Christopher Caldwell's treatment is more sympathetic, and gives a better overview of the historical reception of Lee's reputation[2]. Caldwell brought to my attention Charles Francis Adams' collection of essays, the first and last of which deal with Lee[3]. Adams was a scion of that famous family, and fought for the Union during the war, so it's absolutely fascinating to read him and find out how a member of the Northern aristocracy thought about Lee and his reputation about 40 years after the Civil War.

[1] https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/on-and-off-the-pedestal/

[2] https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/there-goes-robert-e-lee/

[3] https://archive.org/details/leeatappomattoxo00adam_0