R. E. Lee book

[southern_belle1861]

Hey guys.

I'm doing a research paper and decided to do it on Robert E. Lee. I've look at a lot of places online and in the library but can't seem to find a good one.
Got any you want to recommend?
Thanks!

Edit: I'd like to try and do military aspects of later war, say mid 63-65 (minuse Gettysburg). Its for a high school paper, so I don't need everything to go with it, I'm just looking to do a survey type thing. No need spending the rest of my life on it.

 

[ole]

Chessa. The reams of information on Bobby Lee are daunting. If you want to wade through all of that, by all means, go ahead. You might consider, however, narrowing the scope of your paper to a more limited examination of the man; i.e., his view on slavery, his view on secession, his relationship with his family, his West Point years, or some such.

You didn't say what the proposed paper was for, but you will find it very difficult to cover his life in less than three volumes (ask Douglas Southall Freeman).

Ole

 

[southern_belle1861]

Yes Douglas Freeman... wow. Thought about reading that volume, but decided not to do that as it would take me FOREVER.

 

[Nico_Davout]

Douglas Freeman book is available online -> http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/People/Robert_E_Lee/FREREL/home.html

 

[ole]

Chessa:
If you're into pain, you might take a look at Lee Considered by Allan Nolan. And it's not a large book.
Ole

 

[samgrant]

Sounds like research paper season has opened!

I'd do the condensed version of Freeman and also Ole's suggestion.

 

[gary]

Limit yourself to one narrow campaign or one narrow aspect on Lee. If Freeman can write four volumes on The Marble Man and there are numerous books by others on him, you're taking on a task that would fill a library. Keep it simple.

 

[southern_belle1861]

Wow... thanks a ton! I'm still not sure about what to do. So many interesting things...

I did check out the last two books by Freeman. I think I'm going to do any overview of late war (a brief, breif one of course) battles.

 

[ole]

Chessa:
A big part of creating a paper is analyzing your instructor. You can pander to his/her bias, or you can go for honesty and take your chances. In schlepping around in these threads, you've found that anything you can possibly say will be disputed.

Lee was undoubtedly a good man with a gift of military skill. He was conflicted in his choice of sides, not particularly healthy, and older than most of his contempories. He had the misfortune of being the poster child of the Lost Cause movement and consequently bears the historical burden of being a godlike figure as well.

I suspect that, if his spirit were roaming about today, it'd want out of the worship and critical scrutiny. When he was called, he served. Ably. Making more out of that is the stuff of writers trying to sell books.

Good luck with your paper.
Ole

 

[southern_belle1861]

Well considering that my instructor is my mom, I think it'll be pretty easy to fine the bais.
Even if I was doing a paper for a public setting such as public school, I would go for the truth.

 

[ole]

Well considering that my instructor is my mom, I think it'll be pretty easy to fine the bais.
Even if I was doing a paper for a public setting such as public school, I would go for the truth.

All right! So you know what you can get away with. Best of luck. I'd guess with mom as instructor, she'd be inclined to give more points for effort than for sucking up (which, as we've all found out, mom's can smell miles away). So go nose down, screen up and go to it gal. It's always best to give it all you've got and then add a bit more.

 

[larry_cockerham]

Ole, you must have a bs in some particular subject? (I know)

 

[ole]

Nope. (got to lengthen this post)

 

[southern_belle1861]

All right! So you know what you can get away with. Best of luck. I'd guess with mom as instructor, she'd be inclined to give more points for effort than for sucking up (which, as we've all found out, mom's can smell miles away). So go nose down, screen up and go to it gal. It's always best to give it all you've got and then add a bit more.

Shhhh! Don't let my mom hear you say that! :laugh1:

 

[ole]

Shhhh! Don't let my mom hear you say that!

Can't make any promises -- I'm on your mom's side. HEY, CHESSA'S MOM! (New lesson. Never trust a grown-up.)

 

[southern_belle1861]

Can't make any promises -- I'm on your mom's side. HEY, CHESSA'S MOM! (New lesson. Never trust a grown-up.)

Rats! I hate it when this happens!!!!!!!!!