This biography provides a concise, accurate, and lively account of one of the best known yet least understood figures of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee, depicting him as a human being instead of a legend, making him accessible as a person.

Robert E. Lee: A Biography takes one of the best known and least understood figures of the American Civic War down from his pedestal as an iconic, legendary hero and transforms him into a human being that 21st-century readers can easily relate to. Author Brian Melton clearly separates fact from the idealized lore and fiction created after the Civil War by members of what has been termed the Lee cult. Through the book’s thorough, clear, and accessible presentation, and its inclusion of accurate historical details-for example, Lee’s status as an incurable flirt-General Lee becomes a fascinating and compelling mortal man.

Intended for both high school students and the general public, this biography will offer a thorough and unbiased examination of Lee’s life and military career. Readers will be able to clearly trace the steps that led Lee to prominence-both before and during the Civil War-and discover how his actions helped shape the American military.

Provides a timeline in the beginning of the book that summarizes Lee’s life

Includes period photographs that help bring Lee’s story to life

Contains a detailed bibliography of the latest sources on the famed general, including online offerings