The Lees of Virginia

Seven Generations of an American Family

Paul Nagel

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English

Oxford University Press Inc
01 February 2007

Biography: general; History of the Americas; Genealogy, heraldry, names & honours; Family history, tracing ancestors

"There are few American families that feature such a collection of characters, both heroic and ignoble, who have made such a mark on history as the Lees. In The Lees of Virginia, Paul Nagel chronicles seven generations of Lees, covering over two hundred years of accolades and scandals. We meet Thomas Lee, who dreamed of America as a continental empire, and his son, Arthur Lee, who created a political storm with his accusations against Benjamin Franklin. Arthur's cousin was Light-Horse Harry Lee, a controversial cavalry officer in the Revolutionary War, whose wild real estate speculation led to imprisonment for debt and finally self-exile in the Caribbean. One of Harry's sons, Henry Lee, further disgraced the family by seducing his sister-in-law and frittering away Stratford, the Lees' ancestral home. It was a third son, Robert E. Lee, who would become the family's redeeming figure, a brilliant tactician still revered for his lofty character and military success. In these and numerous other portraits, Nagel discloses how, from 1640 to 1870, a family spirit united the Lees, making them a force in Virginian and American affairs. This Bicentennial Edition, celebrating the birth of Robert E. Lee in 1807, features a new Preface by the author in which he discusses the ways in which family biographies can contribute to the ongoing debate about what constitutes ""family values.""

Paul Nagel is a leading chronicler of families prominent in our history. His Descent from Glory, a masterful narrative account of four generations of Adamses, was hailed by Chicago Sun-Times as ""a magnificent embarrassment of biographical riches."" Now, in The Lees of Virginia, Nagel brings his skills to bear on another major American family, taking readers inside the great estates of the Old Dominion and the turbulent lives of the Lee men and women."

By: Paul Nagel
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: Bicentennial ed
Dimensions: Height: 163mm, Width: 234mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780195305609
ISBN 10: 0195305604
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 01 February 2007
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Paul C. Nagel was Director of the Virginia Historical Society until 1985, when he turned entirely to writing biography. His most recent books include Descent From Glory and The Adams Women. He is a contributing editor of American Heritage, a trustee of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, a fellow of the Society of American Historians, and past president of the Southern Historical Association.

Reviews for The Lees of Virginia: Seven Generations of an American Family

"""Working from family papers, Nagel chronicles seven generations, from the family's arrival in Virginia in 1640 to the death of Robert E. Lee in 1870. Some of the personal histories are fascinating, as is the persistence of the family as a power bloc even with few distinguished members and many spectacular wastrels.""--Nancy C. Cridland, Library Journal, Indiana University, Bloomington ""A well-researched, readable treatise.... Recommended for history buffs and anyone interested in methods of genealogical research.""--Booklist ""Nagel examines this powerful, often troubled clan with the same searching, generous spirit he brought to the Adams family...A multigenerational saga as ambitious, (and) accomplished...as the American dynasty it chronicles.""--Kirkus Reviews ""[A] splendidly written, poignant, well-researched portrait of a notable clan through approximately 230 years.""--Publishers Weekly ""Contains a wealth of information....Tells us much about the education of Robert E. Lee.""--Wilson Library Bulletin"