kMichael Fellman's "The Making of R.E.Lee"

[matthew mckeon]

I just finished this bio of Lee. A long time ago, I requested some suggestions about a good bio of Lee, and got some replies. Unwisely I impulse purchased this instead.

Frankly, its awful. Fellman does a "psychological" portrait of Lee that luckily discovers what is generally is already well known. Occasionally there's a particular funny/cringing statement about Lee (Fellman's speculation about Lee erotic/emotional drives influencing his battle strategies is truly, truly strange).

Weirdly enough, when Lee becomes president of Washington College, his role finally shrinks enough for Fellman to comprehend what's going on, his book improves as he shows Lee's motivations and actions in running the college. Lee's disgust with war, his war and wars in general comes through strongly in his comments about Prussian aggression in Europe.

In short, its a thumbs down.

[gary]

Thank you for saving me from a psycho-babbble book.

[ole]

Too late:

Reduced to #283 on the reading list.
Ole

[lrd89]

Originally Posted by gary

Thank you for saving me from a psycho-babbble book.

Yeah thanks! I think I'll steer clear of that one.
Roger