elizabeth varon

I have always enjoyed reading biographies, because as a student of history, I’ve found that many times, historical events are best viewed through the lives of those that shaped them. With respect to the United States Civil War, I have read biographies of Lincoln, Grant, Lee, Jackson, Sherman and even Nathan Bedford Forrest (that’s a doozy). When I came across this biography of James Longstreet, Lee’s “old war horse”, I quickly snapped it up.

Through reading the previous biographies, along with numerous other Civil War source material, I was relatively familiar with Longstreet’s role in the war. I was also aware of his post-War political conversion and his contentious relationship with other Confederate generals, most particular the primary Lost Cause proponent, Jubal Early. Longstreet was identified by these as being directly responsible for the loss at Gettysburg, setting up a long-term debate over the actions and decisions leading to the Union victory.

Of all the Civil War biographies I have read, this was far and away the least enjoyable to read. The events of the War are barely covered at all, and in no detail whatsoever. Longstreet’s political conversion and his time spent in New Orleans are covered in GREAT detail, and this part of the book is borderline unreadable

I was not aware of Longstreet’s appointment as ambassador to Turkey, and this part of the book was instructive, but by and large, this was not a good effort and I can’t recommend it.… (mere)

I have to say that I love anything at all to do with the American Civil War. This is because I married a man who grew up close to Gettysburg, and once I went to the battlefield, I was in awe. Not only because of what I saw there, but because of the history that it tells. Since then, I have collected hundreds of books on the war, and many of them are biographies. However, this is the first one of Longstreet that I have read, and I have always wondered why no one has written anything -- until now.

The author gives us a complete history of this general, and how he came to be who he was in his later years. As a southern gentleman, he went into the war with illusions, but came out with reality. He was seriously wounded during the earlier Mexican-American war. He came out of that with many accolades.

He was both a friend of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. General Lee called him "The Old War Horse." and he was a close confidant. Perhaps if Lee had listened to Longstreet's warnings, the battle at Gettysburg may have gone differently; but we will never know. While he began as a Democrat he later changed to a Republican, and this book details the reasons why. He came to know that slavery was wrong, and tried to do the right thing as he aged.

This biography is detailed and done with great research; although somewhat dry at times, it is still worth the read, and not too hefty of a tome (weighing in at 480 pages); it has given me a new understanding of the man and both his personal and professional life. Indeed, it stands well with other military biographies that I have read. Even those who revile the Confederates should understand that it was a different time with different mores. The writing is done very well, and the author has done herself proud. Highly recommended.… (mere)