Gray Fox: Robert E. Lee and the Civil War (Classics of War) [Paperback]

Burke Davis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Classics of War | Publication Date: August 11, 1998

Gray Fox is the vivid chronicle of Lee's command, a book that humanizes this gentleman-soldier of tradition and makes him all the more awe-inspiring.

Editorial Reviews

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10 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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An awe-inspiring epic masterpiece! Exciting biography of one of the monumental figures of the Civil War, told in a dramatic narrative that will sweep you into the flow of history. 7 maps. 21 photographs. 480 pages. 6 X 9. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Burford Books (August 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580800696
• ISBN-13: 978-1580800693
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #468,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Lee, Robert E.

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Customer Reviews

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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Extraordinary Story, December 31, 2000

By 

Mark Edward Bachmann (Westport, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gray Fox: Robert E. Lee and the Civil War (Hardcover)

While limited in scope, this is a very good book about an extraordinary figure in American history. Beginning only a few days before Fort Sumter and concluding with Appomattox, Mr. Davis' narrative is not designed as a biography of Robert E. Lee, and only limited dimensions of his character and his life are revealed in it. What the book does achieve is to paint a vivid picture of Lee's role in the Civil War and, through this vehicle, to reveal something essential about this bloodiest of American tragedies, which is a story of many sad paradoxes. A genuinely kindly and self-effacing man, Lee the military commander was nonetheless a wily aggressor who, along with his Union counterparts, invented a new kind of warfare which at the time had no precedent anywhere in the world for the degree of mass slaughter it unleashed. Lee adamantly opposed slavery on moral grounds and was appalled at the decision of the southern states to succeed from the American nation, the service of which he had devoted his professional life to. Despite these misgivings, he took up the Southern cause for the purpose of defending his native Virginia. Having reluctantly committed himself, he took up command of the Confederate army with such determination and skill that, prior to Gettysburg, he was arguably within range of accomplishing the Southern victory that he himself always believed to be unlikely. One of the strengths of this book is that the author seeks neither to romanticize nor debunk Lee. He lets primary sources speak for themselves through much of the narrative, and the portrait of Lee that emerges is one largely consistent with the popular image of the man as one of history's great tragic heroes. This books biggest weakness, at least for me, was it's failure to flesh out the strategic context for Lee's actions during the war. The narrative follows him through the major engagements in which he participated, but gives minimal perspective on military or political events occurring outside of Lee's camp. A comprehensive history of the war is beyond the scope of this short study, but the marvelous story it tells falls somewhat short due to the lack of background information. Still, the book is very well worth reading, and I recommend it.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMONG THE BEST OF THE BIOGRAPHIES OF R.E.LEE!, February 22, 2000

By 

Alan Rockman (Upland, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Gray Fox: Robert E. Lee and the Civil War (Hardcover)

I remember reading "Gray Fox" many years ago, and for some reason it didn't leave a major impact on me then... Then I recently bought the "new" version, and found it extremely gripping, and more importantly - quite readable.

The first chapter sets the tone of the book - it tells of the inner crisis that Lee faced with Secession, the attack on Fort Sumter, and his decision to reject President Lincoln's offer of a command of the Union Army.One can sense the full drama of the moment, as Lee turns his back on his love of country and army in favor of his state, about to join the Southern Confederacy.

Above all, Burke Davis is a master storyteller - and his Civil War Histories, though basically written from a Southern perspective (he has also written biographies of "Stonewall" Jackson and Jeb Stuart, as well as the wonderful "The Civil War: Strange and Fascinating Facts")are on a par with those written by Catton, Foote, and McPherson.By emphasizing both the history and the human interest aspects of Lee, Davis makes the reader feels a part of the story; as if he were at Lee's side at Antietam, Gettysburg, Appomattox...

For those interested in learning both the realities as well as the legend of Lee, I would strongly suggest purchasing this book, as well as Alan Nolan's controversal "Lee Reconsidered" (which presents a more sobering view of Lee the man) as vantage points to begin reading about the man considered by many to be America's "finest General" - though I'm not so sure about that opinion myself.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gray Fox is superb. This book brings the past to life., December 6, 2002

By 

Daryl Long (Diamond Bar, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gray Fox: Robert E. Lee and the Civil War (Classics of War) (Paperback)

Davis is one of those rare authors who has the magical ability to to breathe life into the past through his writings. In addition to being a truly gifted writer, he is also an insightful and even-handed historian. Davis depicts Lee as a great, but not perfect general, as a complex figure who was willing to fight invading Northern armies, but who also hoped for an eventual end to slavery, as a man who while being vulnerable to pride sought the ideal of Christian humility, as kind and humane, but also willing to see men die in their thousands for the cause which he and they fought for. Moreover, while the book is written from the perspective of Lee and his army, the Northern side is still treated with respect and the same depth of understanding. Since many books on the Civil War are filled with hatred, blame, and arteficial and foolish one dimensional standards of morality, this is refreshing. I do not at all regret buying this book. I only regret that the author did not write more books. In addition to Gray Fox, I also highly recommend Davis's biography of Stonewall Jackson.