Adored by his soldiers and respected by his adversaries; Robert E. Lee achieved worldwide admiration for his military triumphs against a vastly more powerful army. The idol of the Confederacy proved gracious in defeat; and he encouraged other Southerners to follow his example and accept reconciliation with the Union. Revered in his lifetime; Lee achieved legendary status after his death. This extraordinary memoir by his son offers rare glimpses of the man behind the uniform; with scenes from family life and touching letters from a loving husband and father.Lee's youngest son; Robert; published this unique volume in 1904. A celebration of the general's life as well as a priceless contribution to the historical record; it combines correspondence and personal reminiscences dating from the Mexican-American War in the 1840s until the general's death in 1870. In addition to their firsthand reports from Civil War battlefields; Lee's letters offer comfort to the family members at home and express concern for his sons; who served in the Confederate army. His post-war correspondence reflects his devotion to duty in the difficult era of Reconstruction; when he declined more lucrative offers to profit from his fame and assumed the presidency of Washington College; known today as Washington and Lee University. Any study of Robert E. Lee; the South; the Civil War; or American history is incomplete without this remarkable book and its intimate portrait of a towering historical figure.
#500579 in Books Henri Pirenne 2001-08-28 2001-08-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.47 x .61 x 5.40l; .67 #File Name: 0486420116304 pagesMohammed and Charlemagne
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Real Fall of RomeBy Peter J. KeiserThis book is a gem. This was his last work; incomplete; a first draft and completed by one of his graduate students. All that said and additionally that it is somewhat dated; the ideas presented here are incisive and excellent. To whit; that the invasions of the western empire by the Germanic tribes between the fourth and seventh centuries AD did not spell the end of Roman civilization but rather its continuance in a somewhat modified form and that the real end of Roman culture in the West was caused by the rise of Islam and the consequent closure of the Mediterranean Sea; particularly its western half. Pirenne describes how the Germanic tribes did not seek the destruction of Roman culture but rather that they admired it; sought to emulate it; adopted its ways and were largely assimilated by it. The real end of Roman civilization in western and northern Europe occured with the Arab conquest of most of the middle east; North Africa and Spain and the Arab destruction of trade and commerce on what had previously been a Roman lake; the Mediterranean. The Papacy; the Catholic Church; shifted its alliance from Byzantium; the eastern Roman Empire; to the Carolingians(Charlemagne) in the north. This became the epicenter of the West. The Byzantine Empire held the Arab Muslims at bay in the east; while the Franks rebuilt western civilization on a new northern axis. The details involving the various Germanic tribes; their interactions with the locals they encountered in Gaul; Spain; North Africa; Italy and elsewhere; the Anglo-Saxons in Britain(always a separate and distinct group); the Lombards in Northern Italy; the conversion of Britain; Frisia and Germania etc. etc. all makes a very interesting read. Excellent! Highly recommended.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Bottom line I enjoyed the authors explanations as to how this conglomerates of ...By CustomerI originally read this book to catch up on my European history and wound up learning about all the tribes that combined to make up today's Europe. This in turn led me to have my DNA analyzed and discover that while I carry Spanish surnames my heritage owes it's roots to Basque; French; Polish and Turkish ancestors. We also have non European roots of Syrian; Saudi and Egyptian roots. This makes sense to me now since friends and acquaintances over the years had asked if I were Italian Greek or southern French. Bottom line I enjoyed the authors explanations as to how this conglomerates of peoples along with Jewish and eventual Moslem influences and invasions of southern Europe shaped what exists today. What is going on in our country at the present reminds me of earlier episodes in European history where some one other than us is made a scapegoat for all the failures of our present economic and social failures.. This is a very much open to discussion and I have welcomed all my friends and relatives that share this interest to read these volumes. Lets just say that this book gives one a lot of food for thought whether you agree with the author or not. In that case the author has achieved his intent of getting people to talk about the what and why of European society today. I have not started reading the Revisited volume yet.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. the great trading ports of Marseille and others declined as poverty ...By James GorrieThe most important point that Pirenne makes quite clear is that the Dark Ages were not a result of the Fall of the Roman Empire; but rather; the rise of Islam and its successful assault on the Romanized Mediterranean basin and Europe. With the barbarous Islamic hordes came a cessation of major international trade; economic growth; coinage; education; civil bureaucracy and Romanic civilization. Sea trade slowed to a trickle; the great trading ports of Marseille and others declined as poverty and ignorance spread throughout Europe. Though complete in 1935; this powef historical work is critically important to the world today.
