Reviews
The complexity and multifaceted nuances of most politicaldecisions are masterfully revealed...An excellent addition to the library ofCivil War books. Horn presents not only the historical record, but also thepathos, irony and tension involved in Lee's decision and how it reflectedissues in his personal life. The author's work reads very much like a novel andis suitable for both serious historians and lovers of engaging stories., Stirring and elegant....[Horn] chronicles Lee's life with a vitality that captivates our imagination and keeps us glued to Lee's story.With graceful vigor, he traces Lee from his childhood to his days at West Point...and ultimately to his decision to resign his commission in the U.S. Army....Horn's illuminating study offers a fascinating comparison between two figures who shaped American history., For all the biographies written about Robert E. Lee, the South's greatest hero and the North's greatest threat remains something of an enigma--patriot or traitor, saint or sinner? In this beautifully written narrative, Jonathan Horn clears away the cobwebs of myth and gives us a Lee passionately committed to a specific vision of America and leadership, but endlessly tortured about how to deal with a divided Union. The Man Who Would Not Be Washington succeeds at offering soundly researched history, fresh perspective, and gripping prose. Even for those well acquainted with the story of Lee and the Civil War, this is a genuine page turner., [An] interesting study....Jonathan Horn writes well and makes responsible, often vivid, use of his sources., Jonathan Horn has brought us an intriguing, nuanced, close-up portrait of a complex American leader and his fateful moment of choice., Jonathan Horn's fascinating book looks at Lee through the prism of yet another famous man, George Washington. His subtle and sympathetic examination of the Washington-Lee connection helps us understand the Lee question....textured....splendid....Horn's story is fascinating, thought-provoking, and deeply sad., Captivating....Detailed yet accessible descriptions of battles are coupled with stories of Lee's personal life, revealing a man as complex as the war he reluctantly joined....A fair and equitable approach to Lee, his life, and his struggle over participation in a war that tore apart the nation., For all the biographies written about Robert E. Lee, the South's greatest hero and the North's greatest threat remains something of an enigma-patriot or traitor, saint or sinner? In this beautifully written narrative, Jonathan Horn clears away the cobwebs of myth and gives us a Lee passionately committed to a specific vision of America and leadership, but endlessly tortured about how to deal with a divided Union. The Man Who Would Not Be Washington succeeds at offering soundly researched history, fresh perspective, and gripping prose. Even for those well acquainted with the story of Lee and the Civil War, this is a genuine page turner., A brilliant, compelling book that relates the intriguing, poignant story of Robert E. Lee, his decision to leave the U.S. Army and join the southern cause, and the civil war that followed. A book that is both beautifully written and exhaustively researched, one that conveys the complications and tragedies of Lee's decision, his role in the subsequent war, and his life and legacy in the peace that followed., Thoughtful....Horn carefully draws the connections between the two titular subjects....simply fascinating. Horn is a graceful writer, and when the occasion warrants, has a suitable flair for the dramatic. The pages blaze by....Horn's excellent book drives home the tragic magnitude of [Lee's] decision., Captures the many facets of Robert E. Lee's crowded life.... A seminal contribution of significant historiographical value., [Horn] provides an outstanding book that will be enjoyed by all readers interested in Lee....Horn's book is a thought-provoking, illuminating look at Lee written from a fresh perspective....extremely well written and recommended to all.
