Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Although many have recognized the various parallels and connections between Washington and Lee, much of the discussion has been superficial. McCaslin's mining of this rich vein has rendered information of considerable importance in understanding the degree to which Lee's lifelong admiration for Washington influenced his education, choice of career, marriage, domestic life, and personal character. Of particular interest are McCaslin's persuasive views of the manner in which Washington's example guided Lee's decision to provide his services to the Confederacy, the principles that governed his strategic planning and execution, his rejection of guerilla tactics in the waning days of the Civil War, his work for reunification, and his acceptance of the presidency of Washington College. Washington is shown to have been Lee's lifelong mentor, rather than the source of some marble image engrafted on Lee's dead features by Lost Cause iconographers. Lee earned his Washington likeness honestly and at great personal cost." Reviewed by David T. Gies, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)
Synopsis
Winner of the Austin Civil War Round Table's Laney Prize and the Virginia Historical Society's Richard L. Slatten Award for Excellence in Virginia Biography
While most historians agree that Robert E. Lee's loyalty to Virginia was the key factor in his decision to join the Confederate cause, Richard B. McCaslin further demonstrates that Lee's true call to action was the legacy of the American Revolution viewed through his reverence for George Washington. In this thematic biography, McCaslin locates the sources of Lee's devotion to Washington and shows how this bond affected his performance as a general. The enduring paradox, McCaslin shows, is that Washington earned his reputation as a statesman, whereas Lee never escaped his self-imposed image as a revolutionary in Washington's shadow.