In his study Robert E. Lee: A Biography, Emory Thomas paints an intimate portrait of the man who many canonize in the former Confederacy. Thomas sets out, by his own admission to revise the image of Lee, or as he puts it “review and rethink Lee alive” (p. 20). Thomas paints a very interesting portrait of General Lee, delving deeply into his personal and family life. Thomas portrays a side of Robert E. Lee that many would not at first think – one of shyness and self doubt. It would seem that Thomas delves so deeply into the pre-Civil War Robert E. Lee that he neglects the General in those areas where he earned his fame.

Robert E. Lee was raised in an environment fraught with complexities. From an early age, Lee seems to have had a greater exposure to the contradictions of life during this time than most. His father, Light Horse Henry Lee, was a famous and well connected man. Paradoxically, he was largely unsuccessful in his personal endeavors, and was only sporadically present in his wife’s and children’s lives. Robert was raised mainly by his mother, and Thomas argues that from her he learned his strongest virtue – selflessness.

Robert excelled at mathematics and the more ‘practical’ subjects as a child.  This would serve him well in his later life as a military engineer.  During his cadet days at West Point he was nearly perfect, suffering not a single demerit and finishing each year second in his class.  After graduation, he was assigned to various engineering posts throughout the United States.

            As Lee developed into manhood, he proved himself a very capable man.  He was punctual, paid great attention to detail, and handled problems in a way that others would not have thought of.  These traits were very different from those of his wife, Mary Custis Lee.  She was spoiled, lazy, and attended on by a doting father.  But, Thomas argues, she was established and taken care of, something Robert and his family did not have growing up.  Indeed, “He did not ‘marry his mother’ or a woman anything like his mother.  He did, however, marry his mother’s unfulfilled dreams” (p. 66).

                Robert E. Lee seemed to be the model of a southern gentleman.  He was successful (albeit recognized rather slowly) in his military career, was a doting father, and was bred from a prominent family.  Lee also had a penchant for beautiful young women.  Throughout his life he maintained communications with several young women, apparently with the full knowledge and consent of his wife, Mary.  Thomas asserts that Lee was the ever faithful husband, simply seeking to fulfill some of his desires not met by Mary.

Thomas gives a good overall picture of Lee during the war with Mexico as well.  Lee performed exceedingly well, and showed the first signs of his clear gift to understand and interpret the landscape of a campaign field to his army’s advantage, a skill which would come to full light during the Civil War.  Most importantly, perhaps, Lee made several connections with powerful military men during this period, notably Winfield Scott.  Clearly impressed by Lee “Scott suggested that in the event of war, the government should insure Lee’s life for $5 million a year” (p. 140).  Indeed, Scott would later offer Lee command of the Federal army during the Civil War.

            After spending time as superintendent of West Point, commanding Cavalry in Texas, and suppressing John Brown’s revolt at Harper’s Ferry, Lee seemed ready to retire to “’a small farm’ earning his ‘daily bread’ from the earth, and leading a ‘tranquil’ life” (p. 175).  That was not to be.  As previously mentioned, Lee was called first to serve the Union in the Civil War – which he declined, and ultimately was called in defense of his home state of Virginia.  Lee commanded the Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War, and ended his career as the head of WashingtonCollege in LexingtonVirginia.

            There is no doubt that Robert E. Lee was a fascinating man.  He overcame adversity in his family life and succeeded immensely in his professional life.  Thomas does an outstanding job of painting the portrait of Robert E. Lee the man.  Unfortunately, Thomas does not seem to give the attention required to Robert E. Lee the general.  Although Lee earned most of his fame as the hero of the confederacy, Thomas devotes less than half the pages of his biography to this period in Lee’s life.  Despite this, one can get a great appreciation of the General from this reading, although much more could have been done with the Civil War years which so defined the total Robert E. Lee.