Although the Civil War was the bitterest epoch of American experience -- dividing families, sundering communities, and enforcing fierce regional enmity -- Robert E. Lee was admired and respected by partisans from both sides. This volume examines the attributes of life and service that enabled Lee to become a model of leadership for all time.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
95 of 108 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Slavery, as it operated in the pervasively Christian society which was the old South, was not an adversarial relationship founded upon racial animosity. In fact, it bred on the whole, not contempt, but, over time, mutual respect. This produced a mutual esteem of the sort that always results when men give themselves to a common cause. The credit for this startling reality must go to the Christian faith. . . The unity and companionship that existed between the races in the South prior to the war was the fruit of a common faith."
Oh really? "United and companionship".
That Robert E. Lee was a great man and general is not in dispute. Suggesting that a whole race of people kept in chains as subhuman, not to mention the next 100+ years of opression after the Civil War, were happy slaves who respected their masters because they shared Christianity is appalling. Simple appalling.
There are many great books on Robert E. Lee that deserve reading. This man's trash does not.
Oh really? "United and companionship".
That Robert E. Lee was a great man and general is not in dispute. Suggesting that a whole race of people kept in chains as subhuman, not to mention the next 100+ years of opression after the Civil War, were happy slaves who respected their masters because they shared Christianity is appalling. Simple appalling.
There are many great books on Robert E. Lee that deserve reading. This man's trash does not.
55 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is a distorted view of the causes of the Civil War, masked as a biography of one of its greatest generals, Robert E. Lee. According to Wilkins, the South was Christian, the North was not, and the war's purpose was the "subjugation" and destruction of Southern beliefs. The passages regarding slavery are particularly abhorrent, such as:"it was (and is) easily demonstrable, that, taken as a whole, there is no question that blacks in this country, slavery notwithstanding, were 'immeasurably better off' in every way." (p. 299) And this one from the same page: "Time was needed for the sanctifying effects of Christianity to work in the black race and fit its people for freedom."
This book is used in many home schooling curricula, and was recommended for a long time on Michelle Bachman's website as a must read. How a candidate for the highest office in the nation could accept such an ahistorical account of one of the greatest tragedies in our nation is truly frightening.
This book is used in many home schooling curricula, and was recommended for a long time on Michelle Bachman's website as a must read. How a candidate for the highest office in the nation could accept such an ahistorical account of one of the greatest tragedies in our nation is truly frightening.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By J
Format:Hardcover
I have read a lot of biographies over the years and found this one to be refreshingly well written. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I read it again. I have also read several other titles in this "Leaders In Action" series and found this to be the best title in my opinion. So many of the other titles are DRY, DRY, DRY. Vaughan really helped me understand why Lee was voted into the Hall Of Fame For Great Americans (in Bronx, NY) the first year of it's inception. I was also amazed at the leadership of Lee AFTER the Civil War in his role as president of Washington College as well as impacted by his Christian character. Oh, and as to the claim that any West Point officer joining the CSA was a traitor - I have recently learned that up until the Civil War the officers from West Point took an oath of allegiance to their home state and not the United States. That was changed, however, after the Civil War. That fact has made me view some of these persons in a different light. Funny, I wasn't taught that in school. This fact alone was one of the key driving forces in Lee's decision to follow his home state of Virginia into the CSA even though he did not agree with succession and his family had freed their slaves years earlier. Certainly challenged my views and gave me lots of food for thought.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
I good 'second opinion' read.
Finally something that makes sense and it's written by a pastor.
Poutting Abe declared war on Lee because Lee chose home defense. Read more
Poutting Abe declared war on Lee because Lee chose home defense. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ronald Goodwin
1.0 out of 5 stars
No one would even care about this book...
...If it wasn't for Mrs Bachmann mentioning it on her website as recommended reading...that being said, the real point is to what extent does she endorse the context of the book,... Read more
Published 20 months ago by C. Devereaux
2.0 out of 5 stars
Great American Traitor
Robert E. Lee was one of the greatest traitors in American history. He violated his oath of office to take up arms against the United States of America, and should have been held... Read more
Published 21 months ago by M. Bishop
1.0 out of 5 stars
Morally Abhorrent
A quote from this book:
"Slavery, as it operated in the pervasively Christian society which was the old South, was not an adversarial relationship founded upon racial... Read more
"Slavery, as it operated in the pervasively Christian society which was the old South, was not an adversarial relationship founded upon racial... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Keith Davis
1.0 out of 5 stars
Call of a Traitor.
Why are people afraid to call Robert Lee what he really was? He was a traitor to the United States, period, end of story. Read more
Published 21 months ago by GeorgeG
5.0 out of 5 stars
Written for All..
A wonderful biography about an amazingly inspiring Christian leader. Well written, easy on the eye, fast moving, with the author's deep understanding of the reference point: the... Read more
Published on June 4, 2010 by Peter Hyatt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Call of Duty Robert E Lee review
The book was received on time and in the conditioned indicated in the advertisement - very good. We are well pleased with the entire transaction
Published on August 24, 2009 by Thomas R. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars
Call Of Duty
This should be required reading of every young man or woman who are attending our Military Academy or ROTC graduates.
Published on March 28, 2009 by Jack D. Ragsdale
5.0 out of 5 stars
what a great book!
This is an inspiring, ennobling read. I have been deeply impacted by the Christian character of this incredible man through this account. Read more
Published on March 12, 2009 by K. Thomas
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Christ-like Character
I loaned this book to a well-read friend, who was a yankee and no particular scholar on the Late Unpleasantness. Read more
Published on January 3, 2009 by Jason Carter
