The Man Who Would Not Be Washington

November 17, 2014
Robert E. Lee was frequently compared to George Washington, not only because of his personality and “military genius” but also because he married Washington’s granddaughter, and his father had a close relationship with the Founding Father. But at the start of the Civil War, Lee made a decision that made such a comparison highly controversial: Lee rejected the Union and loyally followed Virginia into the Confederacy, despite his personal opposition to secession. Horn, a former White House speechwriter, puts a captivating spin on Lee’s story by comparing and contrasting the two great men. 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. Horn also points out the reverence for Washington during this time, and the way each side claimed him as their own. In the book’s oddly underdeveloped final strides, Horn condemns Lee for not following his initial opposition to rebellion, for “not being Washington.” That flaw aside, Horn takes a fair and equitable approach to Lee, his life, and his struggle over participation in a war that tore apart the nation.

David Drummond's adroitly narrates this well-researched account of Robert E. Lee with a sonorous bass voice. Lee was a distant blood relative of George Washington, his wife the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington, his father-in-law Washington's adopted son, and his father, "Light-Horse" Harry Lee, one of Washington's favorites. Juxtaposing the tension between Lee's family heritage and his ironic/hypocritical/traitorous (you choose) decision to go with Virginia and reject President Lincoln's offer of Command of Federal Forces at the beginning of the Civil War, Drummond keeps listeners' attention throughout. Drummond achieves an excellent match of text and reader with a seemingly effortless narration. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

April 1, 2015

In his first book, Horn, a former presidential speech writer, gives listeners a view of Robert E. Lee through the lens of his family ties to George Washington: Lee married Martha's great-granddaughter, Mary Custis. Always conscious of Washington's choices and legacy, Lee struggled over the decision to join the Southern cause. Horn conveys the irony of Lee leading the Armies of the Confederacy while trying, at the same time, to carry out the directive to free the last of the slaves of Mount Vernon. The author points out that while branded a traitor by Northerners, Lee did follow in Washington's footsteps by rebelling against his government. David Drummond brings Lee's decisions and heartbreaks to life. VERDICT Highly recommended for Civil War buffs and American historians. ["A seminal contribution of significant historiographical value," read the starred review of the Scribner hc, LJ 11/15/14.]--Cheryl Youse, Moultrie, GA

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